Hey
honey’s
Wow!
Who would have known that one day I’d finally have my own blog? Times are
changing and this social diva like myself had to keep up with the trend. I’m
just so excited yaay! Can’t wait to share my ideas and opinions with you guys.
Firstly I would like us to discuss a serious topic that touched my heart, I’m
sure you are all aware of it as it was trending for weeks on social networks
the hashtag #bringBackOurGirls.
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| www.rollingout.com |
I
remember when I first heard about the inhuman tragedy that took place in
Nigeria where 276 Chibok school girls were kidnaped was through twitter before
witnessing it on the news, I kept seeing this #BringBackOurGirls all over it my
timeline. I was just so lost and confused to what was happening till I saw my
followers tweets and comments, that was when everything starting making sense
it was revealed that on the 14th of April 2014 that secondary school
girls in Chibok in Borno State were kidnaped by Boko Haram which is a Islamist
terrorist group that is in Northeast Nigeria http://goo.gl/AQMROp
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| www.kokofeed.com |
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| www.issafrica.org |
The power of social media is just amazing it
was able to draw attention to this hash tag that was created by a Nigerian
lawyer on twitter in an instant it spread both on Facebook and Instagram. This was
a platform for the helpless parents and families to voice out for help to the
world, to reach out to millions of people across borders to share their
frustration and reveal the injustice ways of Boko Haram and to also make the
world aware of their pain. Social media was used to show how people’s rights
were being violated in Nigeria, I also didn’t know anything about Boko Haram
till I was updated about it on twitter.
This
gained mass attention since celebrities like Keri Hilson also known as “Miss
Keri Babyyy”, Banky w, and the “ladies man” P Diddy and many more expressed
their heart felt thoughts and sympathy on twitter and Facebook and encouraged
people to support this initiative. This put pressure on the Nigerian government
leaders and the president to find strategies on how they could get the girls
back safely and to also seek help in other countries. The first lady of the
United States of America Michele Obama also shared her sympathy on her twitter
account to the parents of the girls. People around the world took pictures with
the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls and pictures of the helpless crying parents and
uploaded them on Instagram, Facebook and other social websites to tell their
story.
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| www.igbofocus.co.up |
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| www.google.com |
Social
media can indeed build or break your reputation. In this incident, the Nigerian
government on social networks was perceived as a country that does not respect
human rights, this put pressure on the government in tackling this since they
were on a slow process in solving the issue and there were no official
statements being made http://goo.gl/HonL8i
.This incident had a strong affinity on a
human perspective approach, how could anyone not want to protest the kidnapping
on innocent children trying to get education?
wow this is a beautiful piece girl. People have no heart hey, this is a touchy topic and yeah I agree the Social Media really had a powerful impact on this story.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your input buhlebenkosi. People have no heart indeed because they shouldn't have waited so long for social media into tackling this matter.
ReplyDeleteWow wow tear drops girl,what a great elaborations of this tragedy.....you did bring it to us in a very simplicity manner,yes indeed the kidnapping if this school girls was. clearly communicated through media and that provoked Nigerian dignitaries to wake up and do something, why because of social media usage. Shortly I like your blog bless you and I wish you divine mind while preparing the second blog......social media got power......above all we have to mind the usage of ur language etc
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words hey I really appreciate it. Im so glad that you understood what I was trying to portray this a serious issue I really hope they manage to find all the girls because their families are going through so much pain.
DeleteWow I felt like crying when reading your blog Abongile. I totally agree with you because social media indeed played a huge role in trying to bring the girls. your blog really made me see social media in a different perspective
ReplyDeleteThanks hun yaay! im glad you can relate to the issue Fiona I hope to see more of you in my blog don't be a stranger ok?
DeleteWow Abongile! Firstly I want to say that I love your layout! I enjoyed reading your blog, it made me see that people can unite via social media. I also think other issues should be addressed on social media and perhaps there would be a change in the world!
ReplyDeleteAahh thanks Lindiwe smiles* I wanted to give it that African feel and add a bit of emotion so people could relate . I totally agree with you social media gains massive attention as a lot of people spend most of their time there and its so easy to influence people there.
DeleteI honestly believe that Social media is so powerful and influenced these campaign a lot I mean for one I was not aware that these was going on until I saw it on Social media and I loved how they used different celebrities in getting involved..So therefore these clearly proves on how social media can be powerful indeed!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Miss Dazzling Dee yes social media does wonders its just amazing how it pulled this situation of to the public world wide.
DeleteHonestly what happened in Nigeria is so sad. To think that the girls were there to get education, than they ended-up being kidnapped it so sad. But with the power of Social Media the story went viral in just minutes. This story united the whole world and got people to support Nigerians in this sad times. Think about it what we would have done if we didn't have Social Media? We will be only hearing about this now.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question right there Nomfundo if it wasn't for social media honestly I don't know what would have happened, it is indeed sad I hope they find all those girls.
DeleteI honestly agree with you. the power of social media has played a huge role on the story, where it did get almost every individual around the globe to be involve in finding the girls. But do u think people rely on social media mostly than anything else?
ReplyDeleteYes indeed it did play a huge part in that situation to answer your question i think people rely both on social media and traditional media as some people still depend on traditional media as their source of information and they trust it more
Deletewhat happened in Nigeria was tragic, with that being said Social media came to the rescue. As Public Relations Practioners, we needed to understand the power and importance of media, how it build your reputation or ruin it. in this instance it went viral and the World joined in, to give the parents of the children a voice. It was so amazing how social media can be viral in a split second and shows you how we connected in the world and always want to give a helping hand.
ReplyDeleteIt was tragic indeed Amanda, yes social media has become a place to broadcast newsworthy information. I hope to see more of you in my blog don't be a stranger
DeleteSocial media is so powerful. I don't buy newspapers or usually watch the news but I'm very well informed about what happened in Nigeria thanks to social media. It is the way forward in the 21st century!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Mikateko it is powerful, same here i don't buy newspapers as well social media has spoiled me lol its so informative if you use it correctly
Deletethe media is now focusing on Ebola putting aside the missing girls. this reflects how powerful and fast the media can be...
ReplyDeletewith or without media #WeWantThemBack!
This is so true Paul seems like they are forgetting about the girls now, we need to all start the hash campaign again #bringbackourgirls to put pressure to the government again
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