Ensuring Safe Environments: A Critical Perspective | Inquirer Opinion

In my previous column, “Social media influencers and modern politics,” I discussed the dangerous influence of digital PR agencies and influencers in spreading political disinformation. This highlighted the urgent need for accountability. Recently, we have witnessed a disturbing abuse of power, as regular people are being targeted.

TV host and entrepreneur Maggie Wilson has used her platform to raise awareness about an alleged disinformation campaign against her. She shared screenshots revealing that TikTok influencers with over 3 million followers agreed in a group chat to defame Wilson in exchange for P8,000 per post. After Wilson threatened legal consequences, several users retracted their statements. Many admitted to following the provided script without conducting their research on the issue. Some admitted they took on the “project” out of financial need.

In 2013, the World Health Organization declared violence against women as “a global health problem of epidemic proportion.” This violence ranges from domestic abuse, harassment, and rape to murder and sex trafficking. Social media has not only provided a larger platform for abusers but has also spawned new forms of violence. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, online violence against women globally stands at 85 percent, with women facing online attacks more frequently than men. In the Philippines, the Foundation for Media Alternatives reported a 165 percent increase in cases of online gender-based violence (OGBV) in 2020 compared to 2019, marking the highest number of cases since data collection began in 2015.

The Economist Intelligence Unit study found that misinformation and defamation are the leading forms of online abuse experienced by women. Gendered disinformation unfairly targets women using language that reinforces stereotypes and misogynistic narratives, portraying them as unreliable and incompetent at work and subjecting their physical appearance and personal lives to unwarranted scrutiny.

During a recent She Talks Asia forum on media freedom, Karen Davila highlighted the disproportionately higher levels of online trolling and hate speech faced by female journalists compared to their male counterparts. She emphasized that even experienced journalists can be affected by derogatory comments, which can discourage women from participating actively in public discourse. The consequences of online violence include psychological trauma for victims and threats translating into real-life violence.

Sexual narratives are the most common form of gendered disinformation, either sexualizing women or demonizing them as immoral. For example, leaked photos and fabricated online pornography predominantly feature women. Slut-shaming, tarnishing an individual’s reputation based on perceived sexual behavior, is also frequently employed. In 2016, much of the discussion surrounding Senator Leila de Lima’s case focused on her alleged sex videos, disguised as evidence to substantiate her supposed involvement in the drug trade.

While some lawmakers successfully blocked the videos from being shown during the hearing, the internet was flooded with sexist and offensive memes, posts, and comments.

In 2019, the Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313) was signed into law, criminalizing gender-based online sexual harassment. However, it is essential to recognize that having laws in place does not always lead to meaningful and effective change. In 64 out of 86 countries studied by the Web Index, law enforcement and courts often fail to take appropriate action against online violence targeting women.

Social media did not cause misogyny. An unsafe internet landscape for women is a symptom of a much larger problem. In addition to strategies to fight against disinformation, combating OGBV requires specific responses that address the underlying issues allowing it to thrive. Social media companies have attempted to improve content moderation practices, but they must also acknowledge and address the biases of content moderators that influence decisions on what content gets taken down or allowed to stay up. This way, legitimate complaints from women will not continue to be ignored.

Many solutions aiming to combat OGBV focus on responding after the fact. However, users also play a significant role in prevention. Users shape the online culture that determines what kind of content is deemed acceptable. Users have the power to boycott online platforms that do not prioritize safety. Effectively policing misogyny in social media is challenging, but if more users genuinely commit to being kinder, more respectful, and more responsible online, there may be fewer cases to handle.

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