Stacy Jo Dixon
Research expert covering social media usage worldwide
Is a safer, fairer, online world possible? Women and minorities are often targets for those who hide behind the anonymity that is available on social media. Online abuse is becoming more common as our lives become more connected to technology. The speed at which technology is advancing is leaving many online users open to more varying possibilities of online abuse. Gendered abuse online can not only change users’ online behavior, but it also has a way of affecting people's offline worlds.
Other effects of online abuse included a lack of sleep, panic attacks, and anxiety. Even though both men and women are susceptible to the possibility of online harm, it is women who are more likely to encounter abuse and are impacted more severely.
Despite the prevalence of online harassment on social media, women are also susceptible to experiencing abuse while engaging in online gaming. As of June 2022, nearly half of all female U.S. online gamers surveyed reported experiencing identity-based harassment while playing online games.
Many people are affected by gendered abuse online, and there is no quick solution to this global problem. However, there are promising growths in positive gender-related conversations, which suggests that a more just future lies ahead for social media.
Online abuse has a real-world impact
Gender-based online abuse is a global problem. As of February 2022, one in five women around the world said that they had seen comments or images online that suggested that men were superior to women. A further 19 percent of women reported having been sent unrequested comments on their physical appearance. Over a quarter of women said they had stopped saying what they thought online because of harmful online contact.Other effects of online abuse included a lack of sleep, panic attacks, and anxiety. Even though both men and women are susceptible to the possibility of online harm, it is women who are more likely to encounter abuse and are impacted more severely.
Women in high places are targets for trolls
The likelihood of gender-based abuse is higher on social media platforms than in any other online setting. In the United Kingdom, research found that 6.5 percent of the content sent to high-profile women via Instagram direct messages was violating, and this harmful content was most likely to be sent in video form. Another UK study found that female contestants of the reality TV show Married at First Sight UK faced twice as many threatening tweets as their male counterparts.Despite the prevalence of online harassment on social media, women are also susceptible to experiencing abuse while engaging in online gaming. As of June 2022, nearly half of all female U.S. online gamers surveyed reported experiencing identity-based harassment while playing online games.
There are signs that another world is possible
Though gender-based online violence is a serious issue, gender-related conversations have continued to grow on social media platforms in positive ways. Between 2022 and 2023, the growth of women's empowerment conversations on Instagram increased by 1,138 percent year-on-year. Additionally, representation discussions experienced a 122 percent increase in annual growth on the platform, and #TransWomen and #WomensRights also saw rises in usage.Many people are affected by gendered abuse online, and there is no quick solution to this global problem. However, there are promising growths in positive gender-related conversations, which suggests that a more just future lies ahead for social media.
