The Contribution of Social Media to the Rising Cases of Femicide: A Case of Nairobi County, Kenya.

Abstract

Femicide, the intentional killing of women because of their gender, is a current global problem. In the recent past, femicide has become a growing concern in Nairobi County, and social media plays a vital role in both advocacy and the perpetuation of the negative portrayal of women. The purpose of this study is to establish the extent to which social media contributes to the rising cases of femicide in Nairobi. Despite government and civil society efforts, femicide still persists, driven by entrenched gender norms, online misogyny, and weak regulations of digital platforms. Therefore, the study was guided by the following research objectives: to analyze how social media perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes, to assess the role of social media advocacy in raising public awareness on the rising cases of femicide, and to identify intervention measures that can be leveraged to curb the rising cases of femicide. The theories guiding the study were Feminist Theory and Social Learning Theory. These theoretical perspectives provide a framework for understanding the social behaviors and gender disparities that lead to femicide and its representation on social media. The study adopted a mixed methods approach, whereby a convergent parallel design was employed to integrate quantitative and qualitative data, which was analyzed to yield the major findings of the study. Purposive sampling was adopted to identify participants, including social media users, police officers, and civil society organizations advocating for the rights of women subjected to gender-based violence, with a sample of 152 participants selected from law enforcement, NGOs, civil society organizations, and social media users. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect primary data, while secondary data was obtained through content analysis of information posted on social media platforms and research papers. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed, and statistical tests using SPSS were conducted to determine the correlation between variables. Descriptive analysis showed that social media has a two-fold effect; on the one hand, it makes violence against women more visible through quick information dissemination and activism, while, on the other hand, it reinforces misogynistic stereotypes that legitimize violence against women. Consequently, the study recommends stronger content moderation, comprehensive legal frameworks addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, and digital literacy. The study also recommends enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration in safeguarding women’s rights.