Most parts of our societies change with and adapt to new technology. Our professional and private lives are impacted by the changes in technology. We work differently, socialize differently, listen to music differently, watch film and television differently– and in general– engage with the world differently. The development and INGO industry has of course also adapted to new technology and, to some extent, gone digital. Most likely, this is also true when it comes to your experience in the development context.
You can tell the world about what you are doing, but you can also engage your audience in different ways with the help of technology. This, like everything else is an opportunity and a challenge. Just like my previous blog posts, I have the approach of new technology and digital being a double edge sword.
On the one hand, you can use your platforms to create awareness of the situation you are in which in theory creates possibilities to raise funds for certain projects, places or people, and even awareness of a situation that can create political pressure, should the message go viral. But on the other hand this opportunity often seems to come with a desire to create problematic content. The spectacle of suffering, poverty porn, victimization and shock effect are terms to familiarize yourself with of you plan on using your platforms to engage a wider audience, and if you want them to take action.
This kind of humanitarianism that can be practiced from your computer in another country can reinforce the difference and the divide between the people in front of the screen and the people you want to help. It is perhaps not only good to crate a situation where some people feel like they are doing something good by just clicking or sharing; a banal activity in the name of humanitarianism that might only have a tiny actual effect on peoples lives but a big effect in terms of the representation of poverty, suffering and need.
This question is a hard one. If a message with a call for action that reinforces stereotypes and increases the distance is the one that will be most successful in terms of fundraising- what does that mean? Which does most harm short and long term? I certainly do not have the answer, and neither do you. Rather, the people you want to help should be consulted. If they are in fact in need, and you think that you have a network of people that would be able to provide some sort of support, talk about what kind of message you can share, what kind of images, how to describe the needs. The problem might be that simplified, exaggerated posts create more engagement and action. But that is a problem in itself and even though you did not create this problem, is it not better to be part of the solution?
Read more:
Richey, L.-A. 2018: Conceptualizing “Everyday Humanitarianism”: Ethics, Affects, and Practices of Contemporary Global Helping (Links to an external site.), New Political Science, 40:4, 625-639.
Shringarpure, B. 2020: Africa and the Digital Savior Complex (Links to an external site.), Journal of African Cultural Studies, 32:2, 178-194.