Stand with girls against online abuse so girls are #FreeToBeOnline
The "Free To Be Online?" report brings together the voices and experiences of over 14,000 girls across many continents. It aims at uncovering and understanding their experiences being online: what platforms they use, what is their experience of harassment, who are the perpetrators, the impact of harassment on them.
What girls are saying?
- 58 per cent of girls surveyed have experienced online harassment.
- 24 per cent (about 1 in 4 girls) who have been harassed are left physically unsafe, 42 per cent lose self-esteem or self-confidence, 42 per cent feel mentally or emotionally stressed, and 18 per cent have problems at school.
- 50 per cent of girls said they face more online harassment than street harassment.
- 37 per cent of the girls who identified themselves to be from an ethnic minority and have faced harassment said they get harassed because of it.
- 42 per cent of girls who identified themselves as LGBTIQ+ and have faced harassment, said that they get harassed because of it.
The platform it happens most on is Facebook (39 per cent), followed by Instagram (23 per cent).
Online harassment starts for girls from the age of 8 and the majority of girls get harassed for the first time between the age of 14-16.
Girls surveyed said social media companies should do more to fight against online harassment, followed by governments.
What needs to be done?
Government and society as a whole should take this issue seriously and need to monitor this abuse rigorously and social media companies must use their technological skills and financial resources to put freedom online for girls and young women at the heart of their agenda.
Social media companies must:
- Create effective and accessible reporting mechanisms that target gender-based violence.
- Hold perpetrators to account.
- Collect and publish disaggregated data that acknowledges girl’s intersecting identities and tracks the scale and size of the problem.
- Take this issue seriously.
National governments must:
- Ensure their policies on internet access are inclusive and actively ensure gender equality in online spaces.
- Update and reform legislative frameworks to deal with online harassment and violence against all girls and young women.
- Enact laws addressing violence against women and girls.
- Enable the effective implementation of laws and policies addressing the online harassment of and online violence against all women and girls.
Communities and families must take steps to engage with girls so that they feel secure in talking about online harassment and know that they are supported.
Civil society should develop and deliver education and awareness with a focus on online abuse.
All members of society should recognize the harm caused by online harassment and become active bystanders reporting abuse and amplifying girl’s voices.