USE THE RESOURCES BELOW IF YOU EVER NEED SOME EXTRA HELP WITH DIGITAL SAFETY
TOOLS & IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
CM-Alliance:
Browser & Social Media Privacy Guide Steps to block trackers and lock down privacy settings.
Explore the guide
SPECIALIZED & FORWARD- LOOKING RESOURCES
Frontline Defenders:
Security Kit for Activists Includes Security in-a-Box and Digital First Aid Kit.
Access the resources
Banzai:
50 Internet Safety Tips. Checklist covering Bluetooth, fraud sites, and social media.
Get the checklist
STRUCTURED LEARNING & COURSES
Coursera:
Digital Safety & Security Course. Structured, in-depth learning path.
Start learning
ALERT DESK ZW: 7 DAYS ONLINE WITH A QUEER ZIMBABWEAN
DIARY ENTRIES
6 daily entries
AVERAGE INTERNET RELIANCE (0 – 5)
48
REPORTS FILED (PLATFORM)
2 reports
What is the digital diary?
The Digital Diary is a structured method we use to
understand digital safety through lived experience. Over
7 days, a diarist documents what their online life looks
like in real time-what platforms they use, how safe those
spaces feel, what harms show up, what actions they take
to protect themselves, and how those moments spill
into offline life (like transport, school, home, rest, and
relationships).
It is designed to hold both data and feeling-because
digital harm is never only “online,” it lives in bodies and daily routines.
As you read this diary snapshot, hold one key idea
gently: a “safe” rating doesn’t always mean the absence
of harm. In the diary, safety is often something the
diarist creates through boundaries and careful choices.
So the visuals don’t just tell us what happened, they
show us the everyday labour it takes to stay connected,
stay afloat, and stay as safe as possible.
ALERT DESK ZW: 7 DAYS ONLINE WITH A QUEER ZIMBABWEAN
DIARY ENTRIES
6 daily entries
AVERAGE INTERNET RELIANCE (0-5)
4.8
REPORTS FILED (PLATFORM)
2 reports
MOST USED PLATFORMS (MINUTES)
TikTok (1 569)
32.1%
WhatsApp (1 596)
32.7%
Instagram (1 316)
26.9%
Facebook ( 405)
8.30%
ALERT DESK ZW: 7 DAYS ONLINE WITH A QUEER ZIMBABWEAN
DIARY ENTRIES
AVERAGE INTERNET RELIANCE (0-5)
REPORTS FILED (PLATFORM)
6 daily entries
4.8
2 reports
Most used Platforms (minutes)
Time spent clusters around WhatsApp + TikTok, with Instagram close behind. Even when platforms were rated “safe, ” the diarist still did constant background safety work (curating viewers, turning off read receipts, removing people from stories/status). That’s a key insight: “safety” here often means “managed risk,” not “absence of harm.”
Peak risk contexts: Where risk followed the body
- Mobility is a repeated vulnerability point where harassment escalates and safety planning becomes physical.
- “Home” is not automatically private; shared living increases the need to manage visibility and eavesdropping.
- Learning spaces are not neutral — insults and surveillance can travel into classrooms and libraries.
- Connectivity choices are shaped by affordability and
infrastructure, not preference.
ALERT DESK ZW: 7 DAYS ONLINE WITH A QUEER ZIMBABWEAN
DIARY ENTRIES
6 daily entries
AVERAGE INTERNET RELIANCE (0-5)
4.8
REPORTS FILED (PLATFORM)
2 reports
Even on days where “economic impact” scored low,
emotional strain stayed high and physical risk spiked
repeatedly, especially when harm was tied to public
spaces and other people’s control over safety (transport,
school, shared housing).
Peak risk contexts: Where risk followed the body
| Day | Emotional strain (0-5) | Physical safety risk (05) | Economic impact (0-5) | Social impact (0-5) | Harm logged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | Hate speech/slurs; threats of violence. |
| Tues | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | Hate speech/slurs |
| Wed | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | Hate speech/slur; threats; suspicious link/hacking |
| Thurs | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Hate speech/slurs |
| Fri | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | Hate speech/slurs |
| Sat | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | Hate speech/slurs; threats; impersonation/fake profile |
ALERT DESK ZW: 7 DAYS ONLINE WITH A QUEER ZIMBABWEAN
DIARY ENTRIES
AVERAGE INTERNET RELIANCE (0-5)
REPORTS FILED (PLATFORM)
6 daily entries
4.8
2 reports
Harm Patterns during the week: This is where we show the diarist’s agency and labour of staying safe.
| Harm type logged | Number of days it appeared (6 entries) | Where it showed up |
|---|---|---|
| Hate speech/slurs | 6/6 | Campus/classroom/library, transit, social spaces |
| Threats of violence | 3/6 | Transit + social spaces |
| Suspicious link/hacking attempt | 1/6 | Instagram-linked attempt via a friend |
| Impersonation/fake profile | 1/6 | Dating app context (Grindr) |
ALERT DESK ZW: 7 DAYS ONLINE WITH A QUEER ZIMBABWEAN
DIARY ENTRIES
6 daily entries
AVERAGE INTERNET RELIANCE (0-5)
4.8
REPORTS FILED (PLATFORM)
2 reports
What stands out is how safety is practiced as a daily routine ,not one dramatic “fix.” The diarist’s choices (curating who can see them, limiting read receipts, leaning on trusted friends, choosing when to leave a space/platform) show harm reduction in motion: small decisions that protect dignity, reduce exposure, and keep life moving, even while harm keeps trying to interrupt it.
ALERT DESK ZW: TRACKING LGBTQIA+ DIGITAL SECURITY
We asked 101 LGBTQIA+ people in Zimbabwe about digital safety, how safe it feels to be openly queer online and navigate the space. This index shares their platform experiences in a clear, simple way- using a score out of 5 and a safety breakdown for each platform.
How to read the scores:
- Unsafe (1–2) | In-between (3) | Safe (4–5)
Social Media Platform Safety Ratings
ALERT DESK ZW: TRACKING LGBTQIA+ DIGITAL SECURITY
Age snapshot (demographic %)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer and transgender respondents make up
most of the sample, alongside smaller groups including asexual,
pansexual, genderfluid, GNC and MSM.
ALERT DESK ZW: TRACKING LGBTQIA+ DIGITAL SECURITY
How safe does it feel?
No Data Found
Safety Tip:
Tighten group privacy — control who can add you and limit who can see your profile photo/status.
ALERT DESK ZW: TRACKING LGBTQIA+ DIGITAL SECURITY
How safe does it feel?
No Data Found
Safety Tip:
Lock down your audience, limit who can comment/message and review tags before they appear on your profile.
How safe does it feel?
No Data Found
How safe does it feel?
No Data Found
Safety Tip:
Use mute/block tools early + limit who can reply to your posts. The option of making your account private is also available.
ALERT DESK ZW: TRACKING LGBTQIA+ DIGITAL SECURITY
Where the worst hurt happens ( summary)
Where the worst hurt happens (Severe abuse reports) WhatsApp: 38% Facebook: 23% Instagram: 13% X (Twitter): 9% TikTok: 4% Dating apps: 4% Other: 9%
Harm concentrates on everyday platforms, especially WhatsApp and Facebook. Digital violence is being normalized where queer people are most present. Safety is not an individual burden. A feminist, care centered response demands platform accountability: stronger anonymity, faster trauma-aware reporting, and moderation that protects LGBTQIA+ dignity, voice, and visibility in Zimbabwe.
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