A real wake up call from speakers and attendees at National Council of Women GB’s online seminar on the manosphere.
The problem is the whole way social media is designed. Its model rewards extremist and outlandish content. As soon as boys show interest in fitness and gaming, misogynist content starts to reach them and to escalate. Children say they don’t want to see violent content but it’s everywhere and the system does not have children’s welfare in mind.
But failing to properly regulate is damaging democracy, employability of young people (hence the economy), public health, and trust – due to disinformation. So the cost is huge.
Although the real world impact of online harm falls particularly on girls and young women, boys are suffering too from having a distorted view of relationships imposed on them. And can suddenly find, in copying what they’ve seen online, that they have committed a crime.
All agreed what is needed is legislation requiring safety by design – it’s a dereliction that safety does not apply – as it does in other sectors.
We all need to press for comprehensive legislation together because there is so much resistance from the powerful tech industry.
We also need to work with other countries, as NCWGB is doing by covering digital safety at its joint international seminar with the International Council of Women on 2 November.