Humanist

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. She was of good intention, but, I reasoned, such a ‘very big man’ could actually use her post not only to cause harm to her, but also against her. After all, he was seemingly able to ‘buy individuals in authority and with influence.’

Before Apese pulled down her post, I had taken a copy of it. I volunteered and offered to rewrite it for her and have it republished in a manner that the ‘very big man’ could still feel the heat, but need not have the excuse to come after her or use her post to get away with it. When I re-posted the re-write, still on Facebook, untraceable back to her and me, Apese read it and was pleased. She texted me:

“Thanks. I have been having sleepless nights for the past days, because of this issue. Well written and nice to read. Thanks a lot. Let me share.”

I texted her back:

“Every little bit counts.”

To me it was big that Apese reached out. It was affirmation of my expertise, my work and contribution to the greater community good, through mentoring young adults into innovators against poverty. She did not know me personally, but she felt comfortable to reach out to me. Wow, how so humbling!

For Apese, when she felt under attack and in danger, she had the reassurance and confidence of a wider social network and social capital, which she could utilize. And she had the presence of mind to use it.

Mark you, I am recalling this incidence with a newly acquired greater appreciation of what it means to be a social media influencer. In Uganda we seem to think only of the quantitative aspects of an influencer. We seem to think that it is one who has large numbers of social media followers.

I have been fortunate to benefit from the Lightful BRIDGE Programme that I have been participating in for slightly over five months, courtesy of the partnership between the organisation for which I am Managing Director, CPAR Uganda Ltd and GlobalGiving.

Among my major learning from the Lightful BRIDGE programme is to appreciate that a social media influencer does not necessarily have to have a large number of social media followers. The quality of the followers also matters – in terms of their reputation, authority and expertise in a particular area.

One with fewer followers, but who hold significant good repute, authority and expertise in the particular relevant area, is an equally or more powerful influencer than one with many followers but of ‘lesser quality’.

Meaning that one could achieve as much or even more engagement through having multiple influencers that have a few high quality followers, than you would with a single influencer that has many more followers, but of ‘lesser quality’.

And so, today’s tip to young women – don’t be bullied out of social media. Nurture and build your following on social media to be of quality. And, as Apese did, use it to strengthen you and enhance your presence on social media. Don’t go it alone. Don’t accept to be bullied off social media. Simply reach out to ija, senga, aunt on social media.