Ending digital violence against women and girls

Tuesday 25 November marked the start of this year’s global 16 Days of Activism campaign, galvanising action for the elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG) around the world.

This year the UN’s 16 Days campaign focuses on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence against women and girls.

What can start small, on screens – a message, a comment, or a post – can quickly spiral into abuse and violence in real life.

Studies suggest that between 16 and 58 per cent of women have experienced this type of violence. 90 to 95%of deepfake videos are sexual images of women.

Technology-facilitated violence

Digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass, and abuse women and girls.

This includes:

• Image-based abuse/ non-consensual sharing of intimate images, often called revenge porn or leaked nudes
• Cyberbullying, trolling, and online threats
• Online harassment and sexual harassment
• AI-generated deepfakes such as sexually explicit images, deepfake pornography, and digitally manipulated images, videos or audio
• Hate speech and disinformation on social media platforms
• Doxxing – publishing private information
• Online stalking or surveillance/tracking to monitor someone’s activities
• Online grooming and sexual exploitation
• Catfishing and impersonation
• Misogynistic networks such as manosphere, incel forums

The abuse doesn’t just stay online. Online abuse can shatter mental health, wreck relationships, and derail careers. It can also spill into real life, escalating into stalking or physical violence, even death.

Digital violence targets women more than men, across all walks of life, but especially those with public or online visibility such as journalists, activists and politicians and young women and girls.

Young people most at risk

Given that girls and young women are more likely to use technology for learning, accessing information and connecting to peers, they also face increased exposure to online violence.

One global study found that 58% of girls and young women have experienced some form of online harassment. 

According to the Movember Institute, nearly two-thirds of young men regularly engage with men and masculinity influencers online.

These online communities often promote harmful attitudes that distort masculinity and fuel misogyny, affecting their views on relationship and dating and reinforcing discriminatory stereotypes.

These narratives are increasingly being amplified by social media algorithms that reward provocative and polarising content.

Keeping safe on the internet

For parents and carers who want to support their child’s online safety the Public Health Schools programme recommends Internet Matters tools, which offer up to date information and advice about the platforms and spaces children and young people may be accessing online.

The Smartphone Free Childhood initiative, supported by the council, also brings attention to harm that digital spaces might pose to young people, citing mental health issues, exposure to harmful content, cyber bullying and grooming.

Parents can also explore alternatives to buying smartphones in the Smartphone Free Childhood Youtube video.

Openness, respect and connection

Councillor Sam Parrott, lead member on violence against women and girls at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “This year’s 16 Days campaign is focusing on the rise of digital violence against women and girls – and rightfully so.

“Spaces that are supposed to offer safety, connection and a means of self-expression are becoming increasingly hostile to women and girls. The inventions that should be ushering the society into modern, digital age, are becoming yet another way to facilitate harm and abuse and stop women from speaking out. 

“It is with great alarm that we witness the rise of the manosphere communities and their entering the mainstream.

“These communities often target vulnerable young men by portraying harmful views of masculinity and spread misogyny, which can have devastating consequences on the long-term mental health of the young men and women who are impacted but also lasting impact on their lives.

“It is up to all of us to challenge digital abuse when we see it, to block and report harmful content, to raise awareness of what digital abuse is and to check in with friends, family members and children about the content they consume, so we can reclaim the online space as a place of openness, respect and connection for all."