Gloucestershire domestic abuse charity welcomes vow from tech giants to tackle online abuse towards women
Facebook, Google, TikTok and Twitter have committed to improving their reporting systems
Facebook, Google, TikTok and Twitter have committed to improving their reporting systems and handing users more control over their experience as part of an initiative to tackle the abuse of women online.
It comes as hundreds of prominent women around the world, including current and former heads of state, have published an open letter urging the platforms to make their sites safer.
According to research on the issue, 38% of women globally have directly experienced abuse online, rising to 45% among younger women.
Heather Downer, Service Manager at Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Centre, said: "Even outside the context in which I work online abuse is massively impactful and traumatic for people who experience it.
"Social media companies absolutely have a responsibility to do something about it.
"If they've created something so big which can be utilised in that way, they have to provide an opportunity and a way for people to keep themselves safe.
The four technology giants have made the commitments during the United Nations Generation Equality Forum in Paris, and it comes after a year-long campaign led by the World Wide Web Foundation, which saw experts, government and women affected by online abuse come together to create solutions to the issue.
They focus on improving the features which will enable users to better manage who can engage with their posts and more options to filter certain types of content, as well as strengthening reporting systems so users can track and manage reports of abuse.
The open letter, which recognises the pledges made by the tech giants and urges them to act upon them, has been signed by global leaders including:
- Mozambican politician and women's rights advocate, Graca Machel
- Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet
- MPs Diane Abbott, Jess Phillips and Fleur Anderson
- Actresses Emma Watson, Thandiwe Newton, Maisie Williams and Gemma Chan
- Musicians Annie Lennox and FKA Twigs
- Heather Downer added: "Online harassment in the service users we work with is extremely common.
- "Some of them have very extensive patterns of harassment through social media.
- "for some it might just be an argument on Facebook messenger, but once it's used it is then used as a tool consistently."
- If you need support with online harassment of domestic abuse support go to: https://www.gdass.org.uk/
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