By Eiman Alabdulghani, Loop
This change is so profound that it is recent UN 16 Days of Activism Campaign Focuses on ending digital violence, recognizing that online spaces are central to the modern fight for gender equality. Yet the effectiveness of digital activism varies dramatically depending on goals, contexts, and tactics.
Here, I compare two groundbreaking campaigns against gender-based violence (GBV): Kuwait’s hyper-focused #Cancel 153 And wide, global #MeToo My comparison of movements reveals the enormous potential and complexity of using digital tools to dismantle the structures that perpetuate violence against women.
Hashtags as megaphones
Digital activists use platforms like Twitter/X, Facebook and TikTok to amplify causes, organize protests and disseminate information. In doing so, they bypass traditional media gatekeepers. my research It reveals how such activism has transferred significant power to ordinary citizens. Campaigns like #Black Lives Matterwhich garnered 12 billion views on TikTok in just a few weeks, demonstrating its astronomical capacity for engagement.
But this new power is not without its dangers. The same platforms that empower marginalized groups are also vulnerable. ‘Slacktivism’ — lazy, passive support such as a simple retweet — can dilute a movement’s impact. DThe digital divide Excludes those without reliable internet access, and The Cambridge Analytica scandalReveals how hacking of user data threatens the democratic process. Yet despite these challenges, digital campaigns continue to achieve real change.
Abolition153: Precision activism in Kuwait
In March 2025, Kuwait took an important step for women’s rightsRepeal of Section 153 of the Penal Code. This ancient, colonial-era law prescribed minimum sentences – a small fine or three years in prison – for men who killed a female relative in so-called ‘honour killings’.
The recall was a direct result of the decade-long campaign to #Abolish153. Launched by Kuwaiti women’s rights advocates in 2015, the campaign had one goal: get the law off the books.
The #Abolish153 campaign in Kuwait ended with a decree that not only repealed the article but also raised the minimum age of marriage to 18.
This created public pressure which then evolved into traditional lobbying. Campaign leaders met with government officials and international organizations, presenting a clear, evidence-based case for withdrawal. Their multi-strategy proved decisive. The campaign culminated in a decree that not only repealed the clause but also raised the minimum age of marriage to 18. This ruling constitutes a landmark victory for women in Kuwait and the Gulf region.
MeToo: A Global Account with a Broader Target
If #Abolish153 was a surgical strike, then #MeToo was a global earthquake. workerTarana BurkeThe phrase was first used in 2006 to describe ’empowerment through empathy’ among young women of color who survived sexual violence. It was a grassroots effort to build community and healing.
In October 2017, the movement exploded into global consciousness. Following allegations of sexual assault against film producer Harvey Weinstein, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted an invitation to survivors with ‘me too’ too.Give people an idea of the magnitude of the problem ‘
The response was overwhelming. Within 24 hours, Facebook reported that 4.7 million people had joined the conversation. The following year, the hashtag appeared more than 19 million times on Twitter. Unlike #Abolish153, #MeToo had no central leadership or legislative goal. Its broad goals were to break the silence surrounding sexual assault, build solidarity among survivors, and strengthen a cultural reckoning.
#MeToo has forced a cultural reckoning, changing public conversations about consent, power and workplace harassment
The results were similarly broad but profound. High-profile men in media, politics and entertainment faced the end of careers. D Time Up Legal Defense FundRaised millions to provide legal aid to survivors. Most importantly, #MeToo has changed the public conversation about consent, power, and workplace harassment.
Nevertheless, the debates have sparked outrage over due process and ‘cancellation culture’. Tarana Burke expressed concern about the hashtag Her main focus on marginalized women is decentralized . Horrific GBV continues, reminding us that a cultural shift does not erase systemic misogyny.
A comparative analysis of two campaigns
Comparing #Abolish153 and #MeToo reveals an interesting dichotomy in digital activism:
- Aim: #Abolish153 aims for a tangible cultural shift. One wanted to change the law, the other wanted to change the mindset. #MeToo had a specific, achievable goal.
- Scope: #Abolish153 was local and targeted Kuwait’s legal framework. #MeToo was global, adapting to myriad national and industry-specific contexts.
- Strategy: #Abolish153 used digital and offline tools to support traditional lobbying. #MeToo was almost entirely a digital-native movement driven by personal testimony and viral sharing.
- Success: The success of #Abolish153 is legally codified. The success of #MeToo is measured in attitudinal change, courageous survival and personal accountability. It lacks a single, specific ‘win’.
Neither method is inherently better. A focused campaign like #Abolish153 is effective in achieving concrete legal reform. An awareness-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 this campaign shows that the power of digital activism lies in its adaptability. It can be a perfect tool for legal reform or a tumultuous wave of cultural change.
Yet so are the platforms that enable this activism armed against women. DThe rise of technology-facilitated online harassment, stalking, and the proliferation of non-consensual images. Meaning women, especially public figures, are often targeted for speaking out. Digital space is a sanctuary of solidarity and a new frontier of abuse.
Digital spaces are sanctuaries of solidarity, yet those same platforms are being weaponized against women
#Abolish153 and #MeToo show that digital activism is an essential force in the modern struggle against GBV. They voiced millions and achieved what once seemed impossible. But lasting change requires a relentless, multifaceted effort that combines digital mobilization with legal reform. It demands institutional accountability and a deep commitment to dismantling patriarchal structures that threaten women’s lives online and off-line.
🌈 No. 36 in a loop series on Gendering Democracy
Photo credit: Duncan Cumming. Flickr. CC BY-NC 2.0
this Article Originally published loopand republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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