For decades, activists have worked to end gender-based violence through grassroots organising, legal challenges, and public education. But Eiman Alabdulghani argues that the digital world represents a powerful new frontier. Social media hashtags can spark global movements, and citizen journalists can hold power to account in ways previously unimaginable.
by Eiman Alabdulghani, The Loop
This shift is so profound that the recent UN 16 Days of Activism campaign focused on ending digital violence, acknowledging that online spaces are central to the modern fight for gender equality. Yet the effectiveness of digital activism varies dramatically, depending on goals, context, and strategy.
Here, I compare two landmark campaigns against gender-based violence (GBV): Kuwait’s hyper-focused #Abolish153 and the sprawling, global #MeToo movement. My comparison reveals the immense potential and the complexities of using digital tools to dismantle the structures that perpetuate violence against women.
Hashtag as megaphone
Digital activists use platforms like Twitter/X, Facebook, and TikTok to amplify causes, organise protests, and disseminate information. In doing so, they bypass traditional media gatekeepers. My research reveals how such activism has transferred significant power to ordinary citizens. Campaigns like #BlackLivesMatter, which garnered over 12 billion views on TikTok in just weeks, demonstrate astronomical capacity for engagement.
This new power, however, is not without perils. The same platforms that empower marginalised groups are also rife with risks. ‘Slacktivism’ — lazy, performative support such as a simple retweet — can dilute a movement’s impact. The digital divide excludes those without reliable internet access, and the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed how the weaponisation of user data threatens democratic processes. Yet despite these challenges, digital campaigns continue to achieve tangible change.
Abolish153: precision activism in Kuwait
In March 2025, Kuwait took a monumental step for women’s rights by repealing Article 153 of its penal code. This archaic, colonial-era law stipulated minimal sentences — a small fine or three years in prison — for men who murdered a female relative in a so-called ‘honour killing’.
The repeal was the direct result of the decade-long campaign #Abolish153. Launched in 2015 by Kuwaiti women’s rights advocates, the campaign had one goal: get this law off the books.
The #Abolish153 campaign in Kuwait culminated in a decree that not only abolished the article but raised the minimum marriage age to 18
This built public pressure that was then channelled into traditional lobbying. Campaign leaders met with government officials and international organisations, presenting a clear, evidence-based case for repeal. Their multi-strategy proved decisive. The campaign culminated in a decree that not only abolished the Article but raised the minimum marriage age to 18. The ruling constituted a landmark victory for women in Kuwait and the Gulf region.
MeToo: a global reckoning with a diffuse goal
If #Abolish153 was a surgical strike, #MeToo was a global earthquake. Activist Tarana Burke first used the phrase in 2006 to foster ’empowerment through empathy’ among young women of colour who had survived sexual violence. It was a grassroots effort to build community and healing.
In October 2017, the movement exploded into global consciousness. Following sexual abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted an invitation for survivors to reply with ‘me too’ to ‘give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem‘.
The response was overwhelming. Within 24 hours, Facebook reported 4.7 million people had joined the conversation. The following year, the hashtag appeared over 19 million times on Twitter. Unlike #Abolish153, #MeToo had no central leadership or legislative target. Its broad goal was to shatter the silence surrounding sexual assault, foster solidarity among survivors, and force a cultural reckoning.
#MeToo forced a cultural reckoning, changing the public conversation about consent, power, and workplace harassment
The outcomes were similarly diffuse but profound. High-profile men in media, politics, and entertainment faced career-ending consequences. The Time’s Up Legal Defence Fund raised millions to provide legal support for survivors. Most importantly, #MeToo changed the public conversation about consent, power, and workplace harassment.
Despite this, debates raged over due process and ‘cancel culture’. Tarana Burke expressed concern that the hashtag had decentred her original focus on marginalised women. Horrific GBV continues, reminding us that a cultural shift does not erase systemic misogyny.
Comparative analysis of two campaigns
Comparing #Abolish153 and #MeToo reveals a fascinating dichotomy in digital activism:
- Goals: #Abolish153 aimed for an intangible cultural shift. One sought to change a law, the other to change a mindset. #MeToo had a specific, achievable goal.
- Scope: #Abolish153 was local and targeted at Kuwait’s legal framework. #MeToo was global, adapting to countless national and industry-specific contexts.
- Strategy: #Abolish153 used digital and offline tools to support traditional lobbying. #MeToo was almost entirely a digitally-native movement driven by personal testimony and viral sharing.
- Success: #Abolish153’s success is legally codified. #MeToo’s success is measured in attitude shifts, emboldened survivors, and individual accountability. It lacks a single, definitive ‘win’.
Neither approach is inherently superior. A focused campaign like #Abolish153 is effective for achieving concrete legal reform. A consciousness-raising movement like #MeToo can challenge the cultural norms that make such laws possible in the first place.
The double-edged digital frontline
The evolution of these campaigns shows that digital activism’s power lies in its adaptability. It can be a precision tool for legal reform or a tidal wave for cultural change.
Yet the very platforms that enable this activism are also being weaponised against women. The rise of technology-facilitated online harassment, stalking, and the spread of non-consensual imagery means that women, especially public figures, are often targeted for speaking out. The digital space is a sanctuary for solidarity and a new frontier of abuse.
The digital space is a sanctuary for solidarity, yet those same platforms are being weaponised against women
#Abolish153 and #MeToo demonstrate that digital activism is an indispensable force in the modern struggle against GBV. They have given millions a voice and achieved what once seemed impossible. But lasting change requires a relentless, multi-pronged effort that combines digital mobilisation with legal reform. It demands institutional accountability and a profound commitment to dismantling the patriarchal structures that threaten women’s lives, online and off.
This article was published at the Loop.
Image credit: Duncan Cumming. Flickr. CC BY-NC 2.