Kam Basria Naazneen, 15

School: Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School

Topic: Can social media make a positive impact on organ donation?

Award: Fifth Place, Senior Category, 2023

Gigi Hadid said, "We get to live in a time where we get to use social media as a tool.” This is one of the many ways to look at social media platforms, as a tool at one’s disposal, something that can be whipped out in a second and used for great things. The creation of social media has revolutionised communication as a whole, providing an expansive network for people from vast backgrounds to express themselves, share information and connect with others. This development allows individuals, businesses and organisations to market their products, build social circles and advocate for a cause. Alongside social media, another topic of discussion that is slowly becoming more common is organ donation. There are many aspects to organ donation and a never-ending list of controversies that surround it. Since social media is rapidly becoming a huge part of our everyday lives, there are also patients or people advocating for one to donate their organs. In some countries, organ donation rates are dangerously low and people are not willing to donate a part of themselves. When you ask someone about how social media affects us, you might receive a string of criticisms. But look at the same question through the eyes of someone looking desperately for a donor, a match for themselves or even their loved ones. The response may vary completely and that should be the eye-opener for us all. Therefore, I agree that social media has a positive impact on organ donation as it can help a patient to find a suitable donor, encourage conversations and spread information on organ donation.

Firstly, social media can aid a patient in finding a suitable donor for themselves. The situation for patients is such that even their closest relatives and loved ones are unable to provide them with an organ as they are deemed unsuitable. Hospitals can have a whole collection of organs, but there is no guarantee that the organs are suitable for everyone. There are many factors at play, including blood type. One’s body must accept the organ for the organ transplant to even be successful. Therefore, social media, once again, with its vast communities can ease the burden of finding a donor through traditional methods. There are so many people out there and there are higher chances of a healthy person who not only shares the same blood group as a patient but is willing to donate their organs to them. This can increase the rate of organ transplantation as donors are found faster and the patient does not have to go through the gruelling process of waiting for a compatible organ to be available. A study from the US found that the increase in digital markers for public organ donation awareness on Twitter was associated with increased donor registration. For every 10 tweets related to organ donation, there was a 3.20% increase in organ donor registrations at the city level. This goes to show that social media is a multifaceted platform that serves multiple purposes. This rise in organ donations can also increase the chances of a patient finding a compatible organ. The far-reaching nature of social media ensures that the appeal for a donor extends past immediate social networks, and can reach a donor who may not have been aware of the need for an organ otherwise. Thus, social media can ease the difficulties that a patient without a suitable donor would face by helping them to attain a willing donor through multiple ways.

Secondly, social media plays a significant role in encouraging conversations on organ donation. It provides a space for individuals to freely express their opinions, share their personal experiences as well as engage in conversations. When someone who was on the receiving end of an organ donation comes forward and shares their success story, it stands out to people as different and unique. It’s not every day someone decides to share about a life-threatening situation they went through. Similarly, someone who has donated their organ to serve the needs of someone else can come forward and share their experience. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Reddit allow one to comment on posts, initiate conversational topics and respond to others’ comments. In the context of organ donation, social media can foster an open dialogue and create an inclusive environment for people or various opinions to share their thoughts without experiencing any backlash. The interactive nature of social media can eradicate the stigma of organ donation being a dangerous route to take. To share the real side of the story means sharing accurate information. Who else can account for the safety of organ transplants and donations than those who have first-hand experience? These conversations can drive the thinking of the current generation as they know more about the truth of organ donation, instead of absorbing incorrect information that may incidentally shape their perception of organ donation in the long run. Since social media is so vast, a sense of community and collaboration can be forged where people can ultimately foster a deeper sense of understanding of all the complexities that surround the topic of organ donation. Therefore, social media can initiate conversations that can shape people’s thinking or direct it in the correct pathway.

An opposing view may argue that information shared on social media is diluted and filtered through many users until it reaches someone. They say that the information lacks credibility and therefore causes misinformation to spread. The fast-paced nature of social media might lead to the viral spread of a piece of information that is not necessarily accurate and misleading. Detractors say that social media platforms are a breeding ground for rumours and personal opinions that may not be grounded in reliable sources.

However, the biggest flaw of this argument is the ignorance of the multitude of reliable sources available all across social media platforms. Instead of spreading misinformation, social media can help to raise awareness about organ donation. Social media serves as a powerful tool for sharing up-to-date information. Users can easily follow the official accounts of reputable organisations, medical professionals and agencies that educate people on organ donation. This access to reliable information can combat the spread of misinformation, ensuring that people receive content that is by the book and not biased. Through this, more people can be educated about the importance and significance of organ donations to not only the patients but their families as well. There are more than 4.8 billion active users of social media worldwide. That means over 4.8 billion people to educate. Furthermore, a person doesn’t have to be someone important or famous to spread accurate information. Research of depth will do. One of the features of social media includes sharing. This allows information to travel the entire scope of social media in the span of a few days. For instance, the NHS in the United Kingdom (UK) runs a YouTube channel that shares information relating to organ donation. YouTube is a worldwide platform, and therefore, simply by posting a video from the UK, the video can garner the attention of people from all around the world. They all would have these pieces of information all over the internet whenever they want some enlightenment. Social media can provide a space for organisations centred around organ donation to make a stand and brief people about the importance of organ donation and the various ways it can impact the lives of the desperate. Hence, social media can spread awareness concerning organ donation, making it a vital tool for educating the uneducated.

In conclusion, social media has a huge range of impacts on organ donation. At the end of the day, the question is truly if one is willing to donate their organs to someone who needs them. Because no matter how many conversations are started or how many informative posts reach a person, are they going to ignore it or consider it for a minute before swiping off? We must all understand that the reason organ donation depends on social media is to widen its reach and there wouldn’t be a need to widen their reach if they could find donors in the close vicinity. Personally, I would suggest a moment of consideration. Don’t dismiss the problem as someone else’s. Things like this require a collective effort from every one of us and we must all be ready to come to a conclusion that organ donation is going to become a big part of our lives. We have to make the decision eventually on whether we are going to become someone else’s hero or keep to ourselves.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2023 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health). To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg