Ofcom has published new industry guidance asking technology companies to do more to make the UK’s online spaces safer for women and girls. Developed with survivors, safety specialists, women’s organisations and groups working with men and boys, the guidance sets out a clear five-point plan and practical steps to reduce gendered abuse and hold firms to account.
The five-point plan asks firms to:
– Meet their legal responsibilities under the Online Safety Act.
– Strengthen industry Codes to better tackle abuse aimed at women and girls.
– Take part in regular supervision meetings with Ofcom.
– Publish public reports showing progress.
– Ensure lived experience informs policy and product decisions.
Ofcom also encourages specific platform measures such as nudges that ask users to reconsider before posting harmful content, temporary account timeouts for repeat offenders, and demonetising posts that promote misogyny or sexual violence.
The guidance cites research highlighting the scale of the problem: female footballers were 29% more likely than their male counterparts to be targeted with online abuse during recent World Cups. Nearly 70% of boys aged 11–14 have seen online content that promotes misogyny or other harmful views, and 73% of Gen Z social media users have witnessed misogynistic content. Data from the Revenge Porn Helpline shows intimate-image abuse overwhelmingly affects women: 98% of reported intimate images were of women, and 99% of deepfake intimate-image abuses depicted women.
Sport England and WSL Football welcomed the new guidance, urging better protection for sportswomen on social media. Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief executive, described survivors’ accounts as deeply shocking and said non-consensual image sharing and relentless trolling can devastate people’s safety and wellbeing. She said Ofcom is sending a clear signal to tech companies to step up, and that the regulator will work with campaigners, advocacy groups and experts to hold firms to account and raise standards for women’s and girls’ online safety.
Chris Boardman, chair of Sport England, warned that toxic online abuse has serious offline consequences and should not undermine the growth of women’s sport. He cited research from This Girl Can showing fear of judgment deters many women and girls from taking part in exercise, and said abuse of athletes worsens that effect.
Broadcasters and sports bodies are also reinforcing reporting routes. Sky Sports reiterated its commitment to keeping its sites and social channels free from abuse and provided guidance on reporting online hate and racist abuse. For support and reporting resources mentioned in the guidance, see againstonlinehate at skysports.com and the Kick It Out online reporting form.