For most of us, social media is a daily part of our lives. And in this global pandemic — with our lives increasingly moving online — it’s how we connect with our friends and loved ones.
However, it’s important to recognize that the virtual world is a vast and unregulated space. Threats range from trolling, cyberbullying and stalking to direct threats in your DMs. Taking steps to protect your digital security is crucial.
We understand that knowing how to protect yourself online can seem overwhelming, so we’ve compiled some helpful resources to get you started:
Safe Sisters is an online organization that provides information on digital security and how to protect yourself online. Check out their guide.
COVID-19 has forced us all to move more of our lives online. Check out Amnesty International’s How to stay safe online during the COVID-19 crisis for up-to-date advice.
Luchadoras is a feminist internet platform that provides information on online safety, including their digital security toolkit. (This toolkit is in Spanish. Use Google Translate to translate into additional languages.)
Ciberseguras provides tips and spaces for changemakers to organize safely online. (This resource is in Spanish. Use Google Translate to translate into additional languages.)
What can you do to help stop the harassment girls and women face online every day? Join other advocates by signing Plan’s open letter to major social media platforms today!
What is online abuse/harassment?
Online violence or abuse is when an individual or group creates a hostile environment with the goal of shaming, degrading, intimidating or silencing individuals. Online abuse not only violates an individual’s right to live free from violence and to participate online, but also undermines their democratic and public engagement.
What is online gender-based violence?
According to Luchadoras, the most common forms of tech-related violence against girls and women are the following:
- Doxing — unauthorized control or access to personal information and manipulation.
- Monitoring, surveillance and cyberstalking.
- Verbal, sexual and physical threats.
- Dismissing and attacking credibility of content.
- Trolling — online hate speech and discriminatory language.
- Cyber-exploitation and revenge porn.
- Slut-shaming and sexual objectification.
- Censorship and government-imposed internet shutdowns.
- Dismissal from power-holders on the seriousness of the violence/harassment.
How is online abuse linked to offline gender-based violence?
The threats, abuse and attacks women experience online are real, harmful and directly linked to the broader issue of gender-based violence. Online harassment is a continuation of the discriminatory attitudes that lead to street harassment and the broader inequalities that girls face in their societies.
The same patterns of silencing, intimidation, shaming, threats and violence that girls and women face offline are replicated by perpetrators online. Technology exposes girls and women to a wide range of harassment in addition to the harassment they face on the street.
Online harassment is an issue that cannot be escaped or simply “turned off.” That’s why it is vital that we take steps to protect ourselves online. But girls can’t end online harassment alone — they need allies. They need social media companies to take the issues of online abuse seriously, improve reporting mechanisms and hold perpetrators accountable.
Sign the open letter to stand with girls against online abuse!
Girls from across the globe have written a letter to the major social media platforms asking them to take action on online abuse and harassment. Sign Plan International USA’s letter in solidarity so girls are #FreeToBeOnline.
Organizations working towards online safety
Below is a list of organizations and networks from all over the world that are taking action against online gender-based violence.
Defending and extending the digital rights of users at risk around the world.
Association for Progressive Communication
Working to build a world in which all people have easy, equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs), to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies.
The global human rights organization offers courses on digital security and online safety.
Feminist Principles of the Internet
A series of statements that offer a gender and sexual rights lens on critical internet-related rights. Available in several languages.
Internews helps local communities use policy, technology and data to access the information they need and make their voices heard.
Plan International interviewed girls all over the world to better understand the impacts of online harassment and is using the data to advocate for change at social media companies.
XYZ is a space for practical tools to navigate digital security and privacy from a gender perspective, learn from each other’s activism, inspire one another and co-create.
A pan-African feminist digital platform and collaborative writing project.
Working to strengthen the resilience and ability of frontline activists, human rights defenders and other at-risk groups in the region to independently recognize and respond to digital threats and attacks.
Promoting and supporting the use of Information Communications Technology (ICTs) by women and women’s organizations in Uganda to help them effectively address national and local problems of sustainable development.
A non-profit NGO that aims to empower Palestinian and Arab civil society in digital advocacy by building professional capabilities, defending digital rights and building effective media campaigns (in Arabic).
Gendering Surveillance by the Internet Democracy Project in India
Through research, advocacy and debate, the Internet Democracy Project works for an internet that supports freedom of expression, democracy and social justice in India and beyond.
Empowers women and girls to thrive in digital spaces and learn to defend themselves in an increasingly internet-connected world.
A DIY guide to feminist cybersecurity. Fiercely dedicated to establishing a culture of safe, accessible and enriching technology free from exploitation.
Helping women, young people and girls live with joy and freedom in both physical and digital spaces while being aware of their strength and personal and collective potential.
Promoting programming learning opportunities for girls and women, with priority given to those who are Black or Indigenous. Challenging the gender and racial stereotypes that influence our relationship with science, technology and computing.
A global, collaborative campaign project that highlights the problem of tech-related violence against women together with research and solutions from different parts of the world.
Bringing together the women’s movement in Europe to influence the general public and European institutions in support of women’s human rights and equality.
Working towards ending online abuse and increasing digital citizenship.
Working to end harassment in all its forms and offering training in harassment prevention and bystander intervention.
Dedicated to ensuring that the internet stays open, transparent and defined by you.
At the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression.
SafeBAE is a survivor-founded, student-led national organization whose mission is to end sexual assault among middle and high school students.
