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Illustration of cyber hacking
Technology has become a powerful tool in activism for women’s and children’s rights, helping to raise awareness and educate communities about violence and societal problems faced by the most vulnerable groups.
Through online campaigns on various digital platforms, activists have been able to communicate and mobilise effectively.
However, in their courageous act of speaking out, the very technology they rely on to spread their message is also used to silence, intimidate and target them and those they are advocating for.
Safer Internet Day on February 11 highlighted alarming insights from the Film and Publication Board (FPB), revealing that child sexual abuse material and cyberbullying are prevalent. Statistics show that 24 percent of South African teenagers have faced cyberbullying. Digitify… pic.twitter.com/j4E7TI5IgK
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 12, 2025
Lady of Peace Community Foundation’s Dieketseng Diale says, “When you’re an activist, you find that you get bullied as well, you know, you get intimidated as well. So you will get messages of intimidation and, you know, messages of, why are you using, why are you fighting for this cause, you know, we are gonna get you.”
She says they embraced the use of new media technology during the COVID-19 pandemic to educate people and engage in constructive conversations about various social ills.
Diale says they realised the same technology that they use to raise awareness is also used by bullies to perpetrate hate and fear.
“We learned that some of the users of the technology, they actually misused it. And therefore, it gives, you know, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Whilst it’s a good, you know, instrument to have, to use for advocacy, to use for teaching, to use for so many other social, you know, capacity-building initiatives, and just communication, you know, it also has got that side effect.“
Member of the Lady of Peace Community Foundation, Dimakatso Hassan, says harassment often occurs when they remove children from homes where they are sexually abused or trafficked.
“They use a phone with these free SIM cards; they get three to four SIM cards. They will call you, changing numbers, swearing and insulting, telling you that they are going to kill you. They know what you are wearing, and this is because they are watching you at that time and you are not aware. You are just answering the phone the way you always do. They use different numbers because of those various free SIM cards they receive for free. When you try to report those numbers to the police, they are no longer reachable,” says Hassan.
Information technology expert at the North West University, Andiswa Msi, says the use of technology to cause harm violates one’s safety.
“When we refer to digital violence, we refer to harm inflicted through technology. It can be either a mobile phone, social media, messaging platforms, but also mostly on the online spaces, and it violates one’s safety, privacy, dignity and autonomy,” says Msi.
Msi says one element that enables digital harassment is false and hidden identity.
“Because this is happening online, people are able to have fake, what is it, your fake Facebook page, they’re able to stalk people, they’re able to go and buy new SIM cards and continue harming people online,” adds Msi.
New media technology allows us to connect with people and access new opportunities. However, IT specialists say there is a need for digital literacy to help users practice caution when using these technologies, and know the proper reporting channels and protective digital policies in case of danger. – Reporting by Tsholofelo Sekwena.
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