Paper details
| Paper authors | Mustafa Olgun |
| In panel on | AI solutions for humanitarian challenges |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
In the age of algorithmically mediated attention, humanitarian fundraising no longer relies solely on the severity of need but increasingly on the virality of content. This presentation explores how digital humanitarian campaigns—particularly during protracted crises such as Gaza, Syria, and post-earthquake Türkiye—use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to frame suffering, mobilize empathy, and attract donations.
Drawing on recent case studies from NGOs and grassroots actors, I examine how images, captions, videos, and hashtags are designed not only to evoke emotion but also to boost algorithmic visibility. Representations of children, women, or symbolic destruction often dominate, while politically sensitive or less “shareable” narratives are sidelined.
This dynamic raises important questions: Who is visible in digital campaigns? Whose pain is readable to donors? What are the ethical risks of optimizing content for engagement?
Through a critical humanitarian communication lens, this presentation investigates the tension between effective digital fundraising and ethical representation. It argues that the reliance on algorithms may distort humanitarian narratives, favoring emotionally simplified and aesthetically curated depictions over deeper, context-rich storytelling.
The session concludes by proposing a practical ethical framework for digital humanitarian campaigns—one that prioritizes transparency, contextual accuracy, and narrative justice. This work aims to contribute to broader discussions around representation, power, and legitimacy in humanitarian politics and communication.
