Online hate and harassment

I’ve been thinking... a lot about the safety and well-being of women and gender-diverse people online.?

We’re seeing a rise in online harassment and hate against women and equity-seeking people, particularly those with a large following on social platforms. This has a chilling effect on anyone who wants to challenge gender injustice.?

We often point fingers across borders, but Canada is the country where the largest number of women journalists were targeted by organized troll campaigns (Coalition for Women in Journalism, 2022). That surprised me. And yet, maybe it shouldn’t. As, Saba Eitizaz , of the Toronto Star , shared so powerfully: “I have forgotten what safe looks and feels like for me.” In Canada. In 2023.

No, I shouldn’t be surprised. Especially, when I consider that hate crime reports have increased by 72% since 2019, linked to increasing hate in digital spaces.(Statistics Canada, 2022).???

The trauma, silencing, and health impact of this experience cannot be understated, especially for those it affects most. Research shows:?

• Gender intersects with other identities and multiplies the effects of online hate and harassment for women and gender-diverse people who are Indigenous, Black, living with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, and more. They are doubly targeted both online and offline.?
• The scope of the problem is large, and the reach of digital media only grows. People spend more time “doing digital” than ever and the increase for young people is especially pronounced (Statistics Canada, 2021).??
• Girls spend more time online than boys, which compounds their risks (Boak, Elton-Marshall, & Hamilton, 2022).???

Everyone deserves to feel safe in online as well as offline spaces. We all have a role to counter abusive and misogynist online behaviour in Canada. We all have real-life experiences navigating social media and online harassment and need to identify and share tips, self and community care actions, skills, and services useful to women and gender-diverse people.

In this time of uncertainty and polarization, I am moved by renewed calls for justice, equity, and a better future, powerfully led by underheard communities and the next generation.?