A viral TikTok trend that is currently making waves on the app could potentially be triggering to women who have survived gender-based violence (GBV).
That trend would be the abusive boyfriend trend which started on Facebook and ended up on TikTok where users created posts of what an abusive boyfriend would do in certain scenarios given that the country possesses a high rate of gender-based violence cases with 1 in 4 women being reported to be victims.
Although it is all for jokes GBV is a very serious offence as most women even lose their lives at the hands of men. Instagram page Women for Change constantly posts women and children who died due to GBV cases, something we hope the government will look deeply into.
Most female users were triggered by this trend with some even posting their chilling experiences with an abusive partner.
A few examples of the viral trend on the TikTok app.
@p.layboycody “abusive boyfriend trend”#fyp #foryou #trending #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Anthony Harrison
@pearlsox🏃🏻♀️♬ original sound – Pearl Sox
@offx.olwethu GBV is not funny but this trend is 😭😂#olwethu#fypp ♬ Impilo – Bonus Track – Sjava
One user mentioned that although the trend was funny in reality body shaming and being violent towards a woman is wrong.
Another user said: “This trend is getting out of hand.”
Another user detailed an experience she had when she was smiling while chatting on her phone and her then-boyfriend insulted her.
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