On-line security watchdog, Ofcom, has launched new trade steerage demanding tech companies ship a safer on-line expertise for girls and ladies within the UK.
A brand new five-point plan will assist drive change and guarantee tech companies are held accountable. This contains making certain compliance with their authorized duties underneath the On-line Security Act, strengthening trade Codes, assembly with companies for shut supervision, publicly reporting on progress, and highlighting lived expertise.
Companies can even contemplate introducing prompts asking customers to rethink earlier than posting dangerous content material, imposing timeouts for individuals who repeatedly try and abuse or goal victims, and demonetising posts which promote misogynistic abuse and sexual violence.
The steerage was developed with insights from victims, survivors, security specialists, girls’s advocacy teams and organisations working with males and boys.
Analysis discovered feminine footballers had been 29 per cent extra more likely to be focused by on-line abuse than their male counterparts throughout latest World Cups.
Practically 70 per cent of boys aged 11-14 have been uncovered to on-line content material that promotes misogyny and different dangerous views, and 73 per cent of Gen Z social media customers have witnessed misogynistic content material on-line.
The Revenge Porn Helpline discovered 98 per cent of intimate photos reported had been of girls, and 99 per cent of deep faux intimate picture abuse depicted girls.
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Jess Carter responds to the racist abuse she’s acquired at Euro 2025
Sport England and WSL Soccer have welcomed the steerage, calling for higher safety for sportswomen on social media.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief govt, stated: “When I listen to women and girls who’ve experienced online abuse, their stories are deeply shocking. Survivors describe how a single image shared without their consent shattered their sense of self and safety. Journalists, politicians and athletes face relentless trolling while simply doing their jobs.
“No lady ought to should assume twice earlier than expressing herself on-line, or fear about an abuser monitoring her location.
“That’s why today we are sending a clear message to tech firms to step up and act in line with our practical industry guidance, to protect their female users against the very real online risks they face today.
“With the continued help of campaigners, advocacy teams and skilled companions, we are going to maintain corporations to account and set a brand new commonplace for girls’s and ladies’ on-line security within the UK.”
Chris Boardman, chair of Sport England, added: “Toxic online abuse has terrible offline impacts. As women’s sport grows, so does the abuse of its stars, and that affects women from every walk of life.
“This Woman Can analysis exhibits us that for a lot of girls and ladies, concern of judgment is a big deterrent to them exercising – and the horrifying abuse of our athletes makes this worse.
“The hard-won gains in women’s sport must not be destroyed by misogyny, so we’re supporting Ofcom in order to protect women & girls’ participation.”
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