Muscat: Social media isn't just about posting pictures or sharing updates; it's a dynamic force for making a difference in society. During Ramadhan, these platforms hold huge potential for bringing people together and shining a light on humanitarian causes.
The power of social media comes from its ability to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together under one banner, which enhances solidarity and cooperation for common causes. As a result, individuals seeking social change use these platforms to raise awareness, motivate and organise the public to achieve many humanity goals.
One example of this type of campaign is the story of Suleiman al Maskari, who found himself in a battle against the rare disease Duchenne. At the age of five, Suleiman urgently needed a drug injection to avoid a deterioration in his health. However, due to the high cost of this injection, his family was unable to afford this treatment.
From here, Suleiman's story spread like wildfire across social media platforms. Thanks to the power of social networks, his story was widely shared, with Omani celebrities and activists publishing it and calling for help. Through these joint efforts, the Omani community responded incredibly.
There are also several initiatives on social media that are essentially aimed at giving and helping. Among these initiatives, the "Alaash Followers" initiative stands out. This initiative aims to pay electricity and water bills for poor families, and has received a great response from followers on social media platforms. Participants in the campaign donate in minutes to pay these bills, which helps bring joy and happiness to the hearts of needy families during the month of Ramadhan.
These campaigns and initiatives highlight that social media platforms are not just platforms for entertainment, but effective tools that can be used for the good of the public and social change.
As awareness of the importance of teamwork and interaction through social media increases, these campaigns can serve as a model for how to harness collective power to achieve social change. Therefore, societies must realise the value of these tools and invest in them to promote good and justice in the societies.
Fahad al Mugairi, a social worker, said: “Social media has become a powerful tool for influencing public opinion and drawing attention to social issues. Using it effectively can have a major impact on changing behaviours and attitudes.” Building well-targeted campaigns and using interactive strategies can motivate and guide people to work on the issues that matter to them, which can lead to positive results.
"Given that celebrities and social media influencers have a large fan base, they can use their voice to draw attention to important issues and encourage followers to participate in social campaigns and donations," Al Mugairi added.
Social initiatives on social media are an opportunity for people to bring about change, whether through donations, raising awareness, or supporting social issues by sharing information and resources.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
