If use of public social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, be an indicator of “advancing gender equality and land rights through technology,” I worry. This is because, increasingly, social media has become the medium through which advocacy is being done. And the gender demographics are consistently in favour of men.

For example, of the 30.2k followers of the CPAR Uganda Page on Facebook, only 10k (33%) are women; and majority whom are aged 35 years and below.

Age and gender statistics of followers of CPAR Uganda Facebook page

Cyber bullying is real and me thinks it has impact on “advancing gender equality and land rights through technology”. Case in point, for example:

“Sometimes back, Apese, a young innovator against poverty in her community and with whom I have never met face-to-face, took a chance and reached out to me for help. She had prior taken the initiative to use Facebook to name and shame a ‘very big man’ in her community who had done something terribly wrong. And he was seemingly getting away with it, because it seemed he had bought his way out of it.

Through Facebook Messenger, Apese texted me: “Good morning, I am already receiving threatening calls. Maybe I just pull it down.” After having read what Apese had posted on Facebook, I advised her to pull it down.” Read more

Extract from “Tip for young women on how to handle cyber bullying

That is why, when I so Stella Rose Akutui’s post about her participation in the CARE International Uganda event in which she says the discussed “advancing gender equality and land rights through technology,” questions such as these came to my mind:

• What has been your experience with women participation in social media sites in which you are engaged?

• I wonder, were skewed gender dimensions in favour of men on social media part of the discussion at the CARE International Uganda event on “advancing gender equality and land rights through technology”?

• If not, do you think such skewed gender dimensions on social media in favour of men worth looking into?

• Does women’s use of social media and participation in public debates on social media have impact in “advancing gender equality and land rights through technology”?

Please do join in conversation on this important issue on advancing gender equality through technology, including social media. We would love to hear from you through comment to this post.

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