In recent days, TikTok and Instagram have grown an overwhelming population of purple profile pictures. Just yesterday, when I was scrolling through the comment sections of videos and all I saw were hundreds of little purple circles next to each username. So why is this? What’s going on here? Why is it so important?
Sadly, the real answer is a lot more serious than a trend on TikTok. It ties into the support of women in South Africa who are facing severe gender-based violence and hate crimes. The instability of the government of South Africa has led to a history of uncontrollable crime and violence. Every day, women are beaten, raped, assaulted, and violently killed for no reason other than the fact that they are women. The fact that they are someone’s daughter rather than their son. According to the police reports in South Africa, 146 sexual offenses, 116 rapes, 150 assaults with the intent of bodily harm, and 15 murders (all directed at women) happen daily. And that is just what is reported to the police. It is also estimated that 95% of rape cases are unreported. We can’t forget about the countless women who are suppressed and silenced. In 2024, within the span of a single month, 5,578 women and 1,656 children were killed, a 33.8% increase.
After years of enduring this hateful discrimination and violence, the women of South Africa stood up and fought back. They started a movement called Women For Change. An organization that is fighting for justice against the violent criminals in South Africa. They have spread their message far and wide, especially to young people on TikTok. Many female and some male creators on this app are using their platform to spread this message and ask people to show support by changing their profile pictures to a purple color.
You may ask how a profile picture can actually help, but you are answering your own question just by reading this. As I scrolled through TikTok comments and saw endless purple profile pictures, I began to ask why. This led me to do more research and become aware of what was happening. By doing this and making people curious, awareness will hopefully spread, and donations will increase for this cause. If you want to donate, visit https://womenforchange.co.za/support-us/ and review the numerous ways to help out women in need.
This problem is bigger than just South Africa. We need to focus on the women across the globe who are hurt and terrorized by gender-based violence every day. Do your part, and make your profile picture purple. It’s simple and easy, but it could maybe make the next person curious, just like you.
To learn more about this cause go to;
-https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn979g302l9o
-https://womenforchange.co.za/support-us/
-https://thetab.com/2025/11/10/right-heres-why-people-are-making-their-profile-pictures-purple-on-tiktok-and-instagram#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI’ve%20changed%20my%20profile,Oreoluwa%20Adeyoola%20%7C%20Trends
