A major new study exploring the impact of online violence against women (OVAW) has found that in each of the four nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), there is a perception that the internet is least safe for younger women and girls.

Online Violence Against Women: A Four Nations Study, led by Professor Olga Jurasz at the Open University and charity White Ribbon, found that younger women bear the brunt of OVAW. Not only are they more likely to have experienced and/or witnessed it, and the violence they experience is more likely to be sexually explicit, they are also more likely to know the people who committed the violence against them and for this to move offline. 

According to the report, one in four young women in England (aged 16-24 and 25-34) had experienced OVAW, ranging from sexual abuse, text-based abuse, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, the use of deepfakes, impersonation, threats of physical violence, trolling, online misogyny, sexting and doxing. Facebook/Meta, X/Twitter and Instagram were identified as the top three social media platforms where women experienced online violence, and the majority of women admitted to changing the way they act on social media after the incident.

The study also found that both men and women believe that the internet is a men’s domain and men are perceived to be the safest group online. 

While most women who experienced OVAW in England reported detrimental impacts on their mental health after an incident, almost none of the women sought support from a GP, healthcare professional or organisation specialising in support for mental health.

Despite recent legislation changes and the first criminal conviction for cyberflashing, four in 10 respondents across all nations still perceived the Online Safety Bill (as it then was) as an ineffective tool to tackle OVAW. As such, the report calls for the government to commit to collaborating with the technology sector, women’s rights organisations and civil society to design and strengthen laws and policies with regard to online violence. 

And when the online abuse of women is so widespread that a third of UK women have suffered from it, it’s a change that cannot come soon enough. 

Images: Getty