News of a Norwegian child bride is causing a social media hailstorm as people protest Norway's first marriage of this kind. 12 year old bride Thea started a wedding blog last month where she documents the days leading up to her wedding to her 37 year old groom. The public outcry resulting from the blog led to many contacting the appropriate authorities to put a stop to the child wedding. There is also a digital campaign with the same purpose.
The wedding is scheduled for October 11, coincidentally UN's International Day of the Girl Child. Plan Norway is centering their girls rights campaign around child marriage and asking people to use the hashtag #StopTheWedding (#stoppbryllupet) to raise awareness not just about child bride Thea, but of the 39,000 other girls entering into early marriage.
Marriage-Stopping Social Campaigns
Plan Norway is Raising Awareness of a 12 Year Old Child Bride
Trend Themes
1. Child Marriage Awareness - Plan Norway's digital campaign to raise awareness about child marriage through the hashtag #StopTheWedding presents an opportunity for businesses to support initiatives combating this issue.
2. Social Media Activism - The social media activism surrounding the Norwegian child bride case highlights the potential for businesses to leverage social platforms to drive awareness and change.
3. Girls' Rights Movement - The girls' rights movement sparked by the marriage of Thea and its connection to the International Day of the Girl Child highlights opportunities for businesses to support organizations promoting equality and ending child marriage.
Industry Implications
1. Social Activism - The social activism surrounding child marriage provides opportunities for businesses to engage with and support movements that advocate for social change.
2. Digital Campaigning - The digital campaign led by Plan Norway to raise awareness of child marriage opens up avenues for businesses to contribute their expertise in marketing and communication strategies.
3. Nonprofit Organizations - The advocacy work of organizations like Plan Norway in addressing child marriage creates opportunities for businesses to collaborate and support their efforts to protect girls' rights.