Sex Work and Social Media: Online Advocacy Strategies

Abstract

Online communication continues to provide opportunities to connect, mobilize and disseminate information amongst direct service organizations. While the use of social media among non-profits continues to expand, there is a paucity of research that documents the extent to which online channels – particularly social media – are adopted and used amongst organizations that support sex workers. Online advocacy efforts have grown over the last decade, with sex workers and non-profit organizations at the forefront. This article evaluates the presence and social media strategies amongst organizations providing direct services for sex workers in Canada. Eighty-seven organizations operating in Canada were examined to assess both the types of social media channels used, and the online strategies employed. Results indicate there is a propensity for agencies to engage in multiple social media platforms with spaces for service users to post information in lieu of static sites that predominantly support one-way communication. Recommendations and best practices include integrating postings across platforms for efficiency, developing and maintaining safe spaces online, and focusing on channels that support multilogue communication. Keywords: Sex work, social media, knowledge

How Twitter is changing the meaning of scholarly impact and engagement: Implications for qualitative social work research

“…In contrast, one of us is conducting participatory research with sex workers alongside community organizations in charge of effective online advocacy. Non-profit organizations that provide services for sex workers, along with sex workers themselves, have created online pedagogical spaces while concomitantly mobilizing support in local, national, and international contexts (Duke et al, 2018). Although the voices of sex workers in dominant discourse are often silenced, social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook provide spaces to communicate unfiltered perspectives .…”

“…Although the voices of sex workers in dominant discourse are often silenced, social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook provide spaces to communicate unfiltered perspectives . Compared to other non-profits that recognize that social media is important-but are simply not sure how best to harness it in their efforts with stakeholders and community outreach (Obar, 2014)-organizations that support sex workers are exemplifying how best to do that, particularly in the Canadian context (Duke et al, 2018). Using the above examples as jumping-off points, the following sections further consider key tensions in how social media is changing the meaning of scholarly impact and engagement in relation to (1) measuring scholarly impact via altmetrics; (2) engaging with research participants; (3) networking and making collegial connections; and (4) advocating for social issues in the public realm.…”

“…Despite barriers to technology access, our research experience alongside sex workers demonstrates how Twitter can be a powerful tool for social-issue-driven research. As an advocacy tool, Twitter mobilizes online support that carries onto offline social action (Duke et al, 2018). Twitter also provides a safe space for marginalized groups to engage with like-minded individuals while promoting connections across institutional barriers (Herna´ndez, 2015).…”

“…Twitter also provides a safe space for marginalized groups to engage with like-minded individuals while promoting connections across institutional barriers (Herna´ndez, 2015). What we are starting to see with sex workers and organizations that provide support to sex workers is a more nuanced understanding of how these platforms serve as a means to challenge inaccurate portrayals of sex work made popular by mainstream media and dominant stigmatizing discourse (Duke et al, 2018).…”

“…In recent years, scholars from various academic disciplines including social work have taken to Twitter for research purposes (e.g., Caplan and Purser, 2017;O'Connor et al, 2014;Pulman, 2009;Duke et al, 2018;Wilkerson et al, 2014). Twitter has demonstrated to be an effective vehicle for democratizing knowledge by providing a public open access platform for scholarly conversations (Effing et al, 2011).…”