A cash-strapped survivor may agree to share their story because they need the stipend or the services provided by the organization. Is that true consent? Ethical campaigns offer payment for stories (recognizing the labor of testimony) but ensure that refusing to participate does not affect access to services.

Awareness campaigns serve as the structural vehicle for individual stories, scaling up personal testimonies to reach national or global audiences. Historically, the most successful social and health movements have been built on a foundation of raw, unvarnished survivor experiences. Redefining Public Health: The Breast Cancer Movement

If you are a survivor looking to share your story, ensure you are working with a trauma-informed organization that prioritizes your safety and consent. Your story is your power—wield it wisely.

The algorithm ironically favors this content. Personal storytelling drives engagement. A user might scroll past a headline from the CDC, but they will stop for a teary-eyed woman recounting her misdiagnosis.