Online Safety for Women and Girls Demands Platform Accountability Over Bans
Women and girls continue to face significant failures in online protection, yet implementing bans and curfews is not an effective solution. Leyla Buran, a research fellow in policy and practice at the Centre for Protecting Women Online, emphasises that such measures do not address the core issues of harm experienced by females in digital spaces.
Gaps in Current Legislation and Enforcement
Young people and women encounter real dangers online, ranging from sexual content to direct abuse, often in environments not designed with their safety as a priority. Responsibility must lie with social media platforms and regulators, rather than placing the burden solely on users. As a dedicated researcher, Buran highlights that the experiences of girls and young women are frequently overlooked in current policy discussions.
The United Kingdom possesses ambitious, world-leading legislation through the Online Safety Act. However, the specific needs of women and girls are not being fully met, partly because existing laws lack sufficient preventative measures. There are substantial gaps in legal frameworks, particularly concerning gender-based harm. Platforms must be held more accountable, and enforcement against rule-breakers needs to become significantly more robust.
The Flaws in Banning Under-16s from Social Media
While a ban for individuals under sixteen might appear to be a straightforward solution, it represents a policy of exclusion rather than meaningful reform. Such a ban risks shifting responsibility onto children, potentially driving them towards less regulated online spaces. Additionally, it signals a lack of confidence in the Online Safety Act before it has even become fully operational.
Technology should be engineered with safety as a fundamental principle, and there must be stronger consequences when platforms fail to protect both children and adults. The knowledge and policy tools necessary to create safer digital environments for women and girls already exist. What is currently lacking is the political will to implement these solutions properly and to hold technology companies to account.
Practical Advice and the Path Forward
In the interim, Buran advises parents and carers to engage proactively with online issues rather than reacting with fear. Open conversations about digital challenges and asking inquisitive questions are crucial, encouraging others to adopt the same approach. Parents, carers, and users themselves are also navigating these complex spaces and do not have all the answers, so seeking advice and support when needed is essential.
There is hope, as civil society organisations, researchers, and campaigners have developed thoughtful, evidence-based solutions to online harms. Nevertheless, the government must prioritise making platforms safer for everyone from the outset. This requires strengthening existing legislation under the Online Safety Act, closing protection gaps, and ensuring companies are genuinely held accountable.
Buran urges lawmakers to avoid pressing the 'big red button' of drastic measures like bans before thoroughly testing the laws that have been fought for and secured. She encourages public participation in consultations such as 'Growing up in an online world' and directs those seeking support to organisations like the NSPCC and InternetMatters.org.
