Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Women's Safety: Practical Solutions

Kara Alaimo, an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University, discusses issues impacting women and social media in her book "Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back," which was published by Alcove Press on March 5, 2024. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and X for more insights. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Discover more opinions on CNN.

When scholar Kaitlyn Regehr's team created accounts and researched topics commonly searched by young men in the UK, like loneliness, mental health, and fitness, they found that the amount of misogynistic content suggested on TikTok's "For You" page increased fourfold in just five days. TikTok responded to the findings by stating to The Guardian that they have long prohibited misogyny on their platform and that they proactively detect 93% of content that violates their hate speech rules. They also mentioned that the methodology used in the report does not accurately reflect how real users experience TikTok.

Kara Alaimo

KaraAlaimo

Extremist misogyny, once confined to less mainstream platforms, is now spreading to more popular platforms like TikTok and influencing youth culture, according to Regehr, an associate professor at University College London who studies online extremist groups. Just a few years ago, it would have been considered shocking to see posts on mainstream social networks discussing violence against women in such a graphic manner. However, nowadays, this type of dark humor is becoming more normalized and accepted, setting it apart from other forms of extremism.

This type of content originally emerged in the "manosphere," where men gathered to express their hatred and grievances towards women. Through social media, they found each other and reinforced their extreme beliefs. These views have now spread to more mainstream platforms.

Friday marks International Women's Day. Unfortunately, this year, women are facing increased insecurity and have fewer rights and resources compared to just a few years ago. Progress has not only halted but regressed. In my new book, "Over the Influence," I discuss various reasons for this trend, including the rise of violence and abuse towards women on social media, which ultimately makes the offline world more dangerous for us.

Using the phrase "in real life" or IRL to describe offline events is common. However, this phrase is now outdated and even dangerous as it undermines the significant impact of online experiences. What we share and see on social media is shaping how women are perceived and treated in various aspects of society.

For instance, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which was published last year, revealed a troubling trend. It showed that the percentage of US high school girls reporting being coerced into having sex rose from 12% to 14% between 2011 and 2021. With approximately 15.4 million high school students in the US, assuming half are female, this data suggests that around 154,000 more girls may have experienced sexual coercion.

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How to protect yourself online

One factor that may contribute to this trend is the glorification of violence against women and girls on social media platforms. Research indicates that individuals who are exposed to violent content in the media are more likely to engage in violent behavior themselves.

As discussions and portrayals of violence against women become more commonplace online, it is not surprising that there has been an increase in incidents of abuse and violations of women's rights offline. Activists in Africa have reported a rise in the number of women being killed, particularly during the pandemic when people were spending more time online. Additionally, instances of domestic violence also spiked during the pandemic, as women found themselves confined at home with potentially abusive partners.

By June 2023, half of US states had passed laws banning or restricting access to abortion, following the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. During an interview for my book, Palestinian-American feminist activist Linda Sarsour expressed concern about being the first generation to potentially have fewer rights than the next generation.

While right-wing groups had been working towards repealing Roe long before the rise of X and TikTok, the high court's decision to reverse women's rights indicated a belief that women would accept the loss of this crucial legal protection without resistance. This may have been influenced by the cultural shift towards normalizing and even celebrating misogyny, particularly through online platforms.

This might help clarify why the US government believes it's okay to withhold important resources from women. In September, Congress decided not to make the temporary funding for childcare provided by the American Rescue Plan Act permanent, letting billions of dollars expire. The Century Foundation predicts that more than 70,000 childcare programs will shut down as a result, leaving 3.2 million children without care and causing many mothers to either stop working or cut back on their hours.

The Eiffel Tower lights up with the message "My body My choice" after French lawmakers enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution during a special congress in Versailles, in Paris, France, March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, was illuminated with the message "My body My choice" on March 4, 2024. This display followed a special congress in Versailles where French lawmakers officially included the right to abortion in the country's constitution. The image was captured by Abdul Saboor for Reuters.

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The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) had bipartisan support in Congress for 25 years. However, last year, lawmakers failed to provide additional funds needed due to rising participation and food costs. As a result, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that 2 million pregnant and postpartum women and young children may not receive the necessary assistance to afford food.

In China, a tragic incident unfolded last year when a 23-year-old woman took her own life after facing severe online bullying. The harassment began after she shared a picture of herself visiting her grandfather in the hospital to inform him of her acceptance into grad school. Some individuals accused her of being a prostitute due to her pink hair, while others falsely claimed her grandfather was her husband. Another Chinese woman, a high school teacher, passed away from a heart attack that her daughter attributed to hackers. These hackers disrupted her online classes and prevented her from sharing her teaching materials.

When I talk about my work, a common question I get is why I don't suggest that women simply delete certain apps that I find toxic. However, deleting apps doesn't solve the issue of others using social networks to spread misogyny and hate, putting women and girls in danger.

To address this problem, tech companies must take a stand against hosting misogynistic content on their platforms. They should improve their ability to identify and promptly remove such content, utilizing a combination of human moderators and artificial intelligence. When we come across friends or family members sharing this harmful content, it's important to have "calling in" conversations offline, as engaging with trolls online only adds to their visibility. Additionally, we should report any content that violates social network community standards to the respective platforms. While tech companies may not always act upon these reports, if more users collectively report such content, it will send a strong message that we demand a safer online environment for all.

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Let's make a positive impact by sharing posts about powerful women and important issues. It's important to engage with others who are doing the same. I have even created a list of "feminists to follow" on my website. By collectively sharing more empowering content, social media platforms will show us more of it.

What happens on social media doesn’t stay on social media. This means women can no longer end the abuse we’re up against without a serious status update on social networks.

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