#SocialMedia4Good a conversation between Maps Maponyane, Amanda Black and Ayanda Borotho that trended well over 3 hours
JOHANNESBURG African Monitor today, Wednesday 25th September, hosted the #SocialMedia4Good event at SterKinekor Rosebank – an interactive debate moderated by Nozipho Mbanjwa, in which South African role models Maps Maponyane, Amanda Black and Ayanda Borotho discussed the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how every day South Africans can use their social media influence to build awareness and ignite positive change.
The event was attended by dignitaries, business leaders and members of the press as well as selected social media influencers with a track record of doing good. Attendees were invited to interact and share the event on social media.The discussion was live-streamed @AfricanMonitor Facebook using a 360-degree camera and reached South Africans from all over the country, ultimately concluding in the hashtag #SocialMedia4Good trending on twitter for more than 3 hours.
Before the panel discussion with the A-List influencers, Namhla Mniki, Executive Director of African Monitor, drove a thought-provoking conversation to present real examples of social media activations in South Africa. One of her guests, Sibabalwe Sesmani’s, CEO of Unorthodox PR and founder of #WithoutUs shed light on her journey and explained how she is actively using social media as a tool to make sure that every woman is economically emancipated.
The Fire Starter was followed by a passionate 90-minute debate in which our influencers shared their experiences and pearls of wisdom on the following subjects.
- Social Media: Good or Bad?
In this section of the debate, participants discussed what role social media plays in today’s world when it comes to justice and what it meant for them, personally.
- Social Media: Education
How can social media be used to educate people? How can the conversations be stirred? Is educational content as popular as “glossy” content? Why are people more inclined to follow funny meme accounts or celebrities and socialites rather than educational institutions, politicians, etc.
- Social Media: Reduced Inequality
Social media plays no favouritism. It uniquely is the only medium to touch all levels of society, in townships, you’ll find that some homes may not have running electricity, but they will have a smartphone with WhatsApp and Facebook on it. How can we use this to their advantage?
- Social Media: Decent Work & Economic Growth
How can social media play a role in giving access to decent work and economic growth?
- Social Media versus Traditional media
What is the catalyst for real action in media? Do hashtags really influence people to action for e.g. #MeToo #BlackLivesMatter #SayNoToXenophobia #WithoutUs? Which strategies work in media to activate real social change?
The panel of influence indulged in the conversation:
Amanda Black emphasized there is a shift needed in how we educate our youth and we need to critically think the way we change our environment and make use of new technologies to do so.
Ayanda Borotho addressed the issue of relatability, warning that if we only have conversations in English, we are closing the dialogue to many. She says : It’s important to have dialogues on social media in indigenous languages.
Maps Maponyane made the point that social media is powerful but still reflects inequalities in South Africa where many don’t have access because of data costs.
Building on Maps call to action to “make caring cool “ Nozipho urges the public: ‘ Do not give up caring, because caring is contagious. And when people see you care beyond the hashtags it will make a real impact. ‘
In closing, the panel of influence resonated that all of us have a role to play. We don’t have to overthrow governments. We can start something small and it can explode into a movement. Social media has the power to disseminate information and create influence in a way we’ve never seen before.
ABOUT THE SHARE YOUR STORY CAMPAIGN
The #SocialMedia4Good Debate was the launchpad of the “Share Your Story” campaign by African Monitor, a campaign with the goal of making the United Nations Social Development Goals a part of the national dialogue. The purpose of the campaign is to incite everyday South Africans, youth specifically, to not only take note of the goals but to take ownership and help in the efforts of realizing them in their communities.
The campaign invites social media users to share & post their stories of how they are participating in the SDGs through a competition. At the end of the campaign period – exactly one month from now – Maps Maponyane, Amanda Black and Ayanda Borotho will each choose the story that resonated with them most. The winners will enjoy a meet ‘n great and special treatment from the influencers.
ABOUT AFRICAN MONITOR:
African Monitor is an NPO with the goal of promoting sustainable development in Africa as well as building the capacity of civil society.
Find out more about African Monitor on https://www.africanmonitor.org/
Follow the campaign on African Monitor Social Media: @AfricanMonitor
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