Ofcom has launched new industry guidance demanding tech firms deliver a safer online experience for women and girls in the UK. The guidance, developed with victims, survivors, safety experts, women’s advocacy groups and organisations working with men and boys, sets out a five-point plan to drive change and hold firms to account.
The five-point plan asks firms to:
– Ensure compliance with their legal duties under the Online Safety Act.
– Strengthen industry Codes to better address abuse targeting women and girls.
– Engage in close supervision meetings with Ofcom.
– Publicly report on progress.
– Highlight lived experience in policy and product decisions.
Firms are also encouraged to consider specific measures such as prompts asking users to reconsider before posting harmful content, timeouts for accounts that repeatedly attempt to abuse or target victims, and demonetising posts that promote misogynistic abuse and sexual violence.
Research cited in the guidance shows female footballers were 29% more likely to be targeted by online abuse than male counterparts during recent World Cups. It also found that nearly 70% of boys aged 11–14 have been exposed to online content that promotes misogyny and other harmful views, and 73% of Gen Z social media users have witnessed misogynistic content. The Revenge Porn Helpline reported 98% of intimate images reported were of women, and 99% of deepfake intimate-image abuse depicted women.
Sport England and WSL Football welcomed the guidance, calling for better protection for sportswomen on social media. Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief executive, said survivors’ stories are “deeply shocking” and described how non-consensual sharing of images and relentless trolling can shatter safety and wellbeing. She said Ofcom is sending a clear message to tech firms to step up and act on the guidance, and that the regulator will work with campaigners, advocacy groups and expert partners to hold companies to account and set a new standard for women’s and girls’ online safety in the UK.
Chris Boardman, chair of Sport England, said toxic online abuse has terrible offline impacts and that the growth of women’s sport must not be undermined by misogyny. He referenced This Girl Can research showing fear of judgment deters many women and girls from exercising and warned that abuse of athletes exacerbates this.
Sky Sports reiterated its commitment to keeping its sites and social channels free of abuse, hate and profanity, and provided guidance on reporting online hate and racist abuse. For help and reporting resources mentioned in the article, see againstonlinehate at skysports.com and the Kick It Out online reporting form.