Portraits: Girl Activists From Around The World Talk About Freedom Online
Girls and young women worldwide wrote an open letter to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter calling on them to create stronger and more effective ways to report abuse and harassment after a landmark survey has revealed more than half (58%) have been harassed or abused online.
Attacks are most common on Facebook, where 39% say they have suffered harassment, but occur on every platform included in the global study including Instagram (23%), WhatsApp (14%), Snapchat (10%), Twitter (9%) and TikTok(6%).
The research by Plan International, a leading girls’ rights organisation, is based on a survey of 14,000 girls aged 15-25 in 22 countries, including Brazil, Benin, the USA and India, and a series of in-depth interviews.
The largest study of its kind, it found girls who use social media in high and low-income countries alike are routinely subjected to explicit messages, pornographic photos, cyberstalking and other distressing forms of abuse, and reporting tools are ineffective in stopping it.
Online violence has led to nearly one in five (19%) of those who have been harassed stopping or significantly reducing their use of the platform on which it happened, while another one in ten (12%) have changed the way they express themselves.
Harassment takes a profound toll on girls’ confidence and wellbeing, with 39% of those surveyed saying it lowers self-esteem, 38% saying it creates mental and emotional stress and 18% saying it can cause problems at school.
Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO of Plan International, said: “Driving girls out of online spaces is hugely disempowering in an increasingly digital world, and damages their ability to be seen, heard and become leaders.” In response to the increase online abuse the child rights Organization joined forces with Feminist Internet and global youth activists to create an anti-harassment chatbot called Maru – ‘cloud space’ in Sesotho- which provides advice & resources from global experts & activists on how to tackle online abuse. Find more info about Maru here.
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Wezi
Wezi is a Zambian singer and songwriter. She is also a gender activist and an advocate for the conservation of natural water sources. instagram.com/wezi_heartsound “I have been called hurtful things & falsely accused of doing disgusting things by hateful people, but it’s in my line of work as a public figure to be passionately loved or hated by those who follow me.”
Nadiuska
Nineteen-year old Nadiuska, is a feminist activist in her home country of Nicaragua. “I have suffered harassment for being a feminist activist,” Nadiuska says. “From calling me a feminazi to wishing me death for being a feminist.” Frustratingly, Nadiuska reported the cases but no one was sanctioned. And the abuse has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The online harassment was maintained. There was a moment when it intensified and during the quarantine at a time when one is alone, it was a very difficult situation. “
Cathy
Cathy, 20, is from Uganda. She has been using the internet for the last three years, regularly logging into social media platforms such as Facebook as a way to chat and keep in touch with friends. Soon after joining the platform, she was harassed by a stranger – who sent her unsolicited nude pictures. “The world needs to acknowledge that it has a serious issue,” Cathy says. “People may not see the effects of online harassment, but it can lead to depression, even death.
Charlotte Weise
Charlotte is a German influencer interested in fashion, natural cosmetics, vegan nutrition, self-love and positive thinking. instagram.com/charlotte_weise “I’ve been sent numerous unwanted nude photos of men, which is always disturbing. Sexualization and objectification absolutely have to stop. “I definitely think the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase of harassment and bullying online in the past months. People seem to have accumulated a lot of stress and fear and there has been a lot more criticism than usual.
Clauvid Daly
Clauvid Daly was Miss Dominican Republic in 2019 and was a Miss Universe finalist the same year. She has a large social media following and is a youth activist, battling against discrimination and abuse involving both gender and race. instagram.com/clauviddaly
Zeinab
Nineteen-year old Zeinab lives in a village in Giza governorate with her mother and two brothers. She depends on the internet to get information, build new friendships and learn about the world. She explains that many young women are discouraged from using social media for speaking up, as when they do, they usually get exposed to bullying.