There may be a few holdouts among you, but let's face it--most of us have embraced social media big-time. The Pope has 23 million Twitter followers!

As we know, social media is a mixed bag--a force for good, and not so good. Though Internet penetration (85% in the U.S.) varies in the countries where Bpeace operates (7% in Afghanistan, 24% in El Salvador, 20% in Guatemala), here are some examples of how social media is having an impact.

 

IN GUATEMALA, SOCIAL MEDIA HELPED LAUNCH A PROTEST MOVEMENT.

A 33-year-old Guatemalan, Gabriel Wer, with no history of social activism, posted on his Facebook page and helped set off a chain of events that led to the resignation of that country's president and vice president. According to Wer, "There was so much indignation among Guatemalans that the only thing that was missing was for someone to set a place and a time." Read more HERE .

 

IN AFGHANISTAN, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME ANOTHER WAY TO HARASS WOMEN.

In Afghanistan, Facebook is popular among the younger generation, and women are finding their reputations ruined with a few keystrokes. Hackers are taking personal information from women's accounts to create fake Facebook profiles with culturally unacceptable content. As a result, women are harassed and threatened. With their personal lives and professional reputations under assault, many women have sworn off Facebook altogether--cutting off one of their few ways of connecting with each other. Read more HERE.

 

IN EL SALVADOR, SOCIAL MEDIA IS USED TO ENGAGE THE DIASPORA.  

Over 73% of El Salvador's population are active social media users. The government has realized that its diaspora community is a strategic audience for its public diplomacy. Over the past 10 to 15 years, it has launched various efforts, including dedicated Facebook pages, to keep emigrants connected to their home, and the money from remittances flowing back to the country.