Communicating intimate partner violence on social media: of hidden identities in storytelling and confessions

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been on the increase at an alarming rate across the globe. IPV is being experienced by both parties involved. Factors behind the increase are highly contested. However, the dearth of the support fabric in the family set up has been touted as one of the reasons why disgruntled partners and/or victims seek solace in the social media spaces for sympathy, empathy and advice. In hidden identities, partners divulge their predicament to the social media family with the hope to be assisted. However, the narratives have been understudied and theorized from a discourse-linguistic perspective. Deploying strands from the Appraisal Theory and Narrative Paradigm Approach, this netnographic study investigates the intimate partner violence reports on Facebook social group, Zimbabwean Deep Secrets (Confessions). The study displays the displacement of the sekuru (grandfather), ambuya (grandmother) and tete (aunt) with social media friend advisors. In hidden identities, the narrative voice confesses to a plethora of factors bedevilling partners in intimate relationships. The indispensable ‘other’ in intimate partners’ lives has successfully been adapted in the social media public sphere and to people’s contemporary existence.