Before you read on… This guide talks about gender-based violence and online harassment. There are links throughout to articles with real-life examples. If this isn't right for you, we invite you to explore our many other guides on topics around data privacy, digital security, online wellbeing, and more.

Technology gives us countless ways to create and learn — but the same tools that keep us connected, can also be used to control, silence and harm. And not everyone is affected equally.

Around the world, gender-based violence is on the rise — and technology often plays a key role. From unwanted messages and cyberstalking, to deep-fakes and non-consensual intimate images, digital tools are increasingly used to commit, assist, aggravate and amplify harm, across social media and other digital platforms. These ripples are felt offline, and can feel inescapable.

This is known as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). It is an urgent and growing global issue that impacts people's safety and their ability to fully participate in the digital and Civic Space. TFGBV is a form of online harassment, where individuals are targeted based on their gender, gender identity and/or sexual orientation. Tech-facilitated gender violence disproportionately affects women, girls and gender diverse people. TFGBV can also affect women in public or political life such as TV personalities, activists and politicians who use online spaces for their professional lives.

The United Nations Population Fund- UNFPA made a shocking revelation: Almost 2 in 3 women globally have been subjected to TFGBV, and 85% of women have witnessed online violence being committed against another woman. These figures highlight just how widespread and deep this problem is.

In this Data Detox Guide, we'll explore why everyone should feel safe and included online — and why tech-facilitated gender based violence infringes on our human right to gender equality, freedom of expression and participation.

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Septic Undercurrents

As new technologies are developed, new ways of misusing them to cause harm emerge, and these harms can be amplified by poorly designed and managed technology. Helpful and many times indispensable features like your favorite map app or lost-phone tracker can also be exploited to monitor someone's every move without their consent. Tracking can also happen passively, through the permissions you set on social media platforms or in your photo reel, which may store location data with every picture you take. Keep in mind that technology created to solve one problem, may eventually be updated to include new features, integrate different services or shift into a completely new product with a new purpose.

Tech-facilitated gender violence is far from just an online issue, but a public safety, human rights and legislation concern that inflicts violence through physical, psychological, economic and sexual abuse. Survivors are harassed by all types of perpetrators: strangers, current and former intimate partners, classmates, colleagues, and sometimes governments. The list goes on.

There is never a justified motive or reason for digital abuse. This violence mirrors the broader roots of inequality—like patriarchy and misogyny—that pervade our societies. Features of digital platforms—like anonymity and the possibility of content going viral—facilitate and amplify the harm. Online harassment, trolling, and sexist memes often reinforce realworld gendered power imbalances by allowing anonymous voices to spread hate with impunity. These are not isolated incidents, but extensions of structural discrimination and sexism.

When people talk about TFGBV, they can be talking about so many — hundreds — of different types of patterns of abusive behaviour. Learn about some of the most common types of harassment that victims and survivors experience. More often than not, a combination of these are experienced together (click or tap on the cards below to read further information):

To find out some of the different ways TFGBV can manifest, take a look at the report: Making All Spaces Safe

Steer Clear of the Storm

TFGBV can happen anywhere you are connected. There are some guardrails in place by online platforms to support you in locking down your information from unwanted eyes. While these tips won't build you an impenetrable fortress, they can make it harder for bullies or those trying to do harm to get to you. Every platform is different and has settings and options accessible to users. As an example, here are a few things you can do to tighten controls on your Instagram and TikTok:

Tip: Set your profile to 'private'. On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, you can set your profile to private, so that only people who you approve as a follower can see what you share in most cases. However, they can still see comments you make on other people's posts and can even still send you messages. Learn to set your profile to private on Instagram and TikTok.

Tip: Remove followers or block people. If someone is giving you a hard time or making you feel uneasy, you can remove them as a follower or block them altogether. But if you know the person in real life, you'll need a different strategy. Learn how to block people on Instagram and TikTok.

No matter which social media platform you use, it likely will have a 'report' function.

Tip: Report it. On apps like Instagram, you can report specific posts or entire profiles or accounts if you spot anything that looks like abuse or harassment. Reporting on Instagram is a great option to flag problematic people or things you see or hear. Instagram won't share the identity of the person reporting with the person who is being reported.

Ripples of Change

Mitigating the harms of TFGBV is a shared responsibility that extends across different sectors and roles in society. Around the world, governments are increasingly responding to the rise of online harassment, non-consensual image sharing, and other forms of digital abuse with landmark legislation.

In Mexico, Ley Olimpia (Olimpia Law) stands as a landmark in digital rights legislation. It became national law in Mexico 2021, and aims to recognize, prevent and punish TFGBV, particularly non-consensual recording, sharing and reproduction of intimate images and videos. It was named after the women's rights activist, Olimpia Coral Melo, whose intimate images were shared without her consent.

Different groups can contribute to combating gender-based violence. Here are a few different ways:

If you or someone you know is targeted with online abuse, know that there are dedicated organizations out there who are ready to help. You don't have to deal with it alone. Scroll down to Know where to go for help where we share a few resources.

Also check out these guides:

• Unacceptable: Responding to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
• An Infographic Guide to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence