World Body Sounds Alarm as Online Abuse Leaves Journalists and Activists on the Brink.
The United Nations has issued a stark warning, revealing that nearly three-quarters of women in the journalism community have faced violent online abuse. A disturbing trend is emerging, where digital harassment has escalated into real-world attacks, leaving many feeling vulnerable to intimidation.
According to the latest report from UN Women and its partners, the statistics are alarming. Over 40% of these female journalists, rights defenders, and activists reported being victims of physical harm linked to their online activities. The study found that two-thirds of women in this field have experienced some form of violence or abuse while working.
As a key figure at the Centre for Journalism and Democracy, Julie Posetti shed light on the findings of this research. It is clear that the current state of affairs has left many concerned about the safety and well-being of these individuals.
The alarming rise in online harassment and real-world violence points to a pressing need for urgent action from governments, organizations, and communities worldwide. Until we see tangible efforts to address these issues, many more journalists and activists will continue to be targeted and silenced by those who seek to intimidate them.
The United Nations has issued a stark warning, revealing that nearly three-quarters of women in the journalism community have faced violent online abuse. A disturbing trend is emerging, where digital harassment has escalated into real-world attacks, leaving many feeling vulnerable to intimidation.
According to the latest report from UN Women and its partners, the statistics are alarming. Over 40% of these female journalists, rights defenders, and activists reported being victims of physical harm linked to their online activities. The study found that two-thirds of women in this field have experienced some form of violence or abuse while working.
As a key figure at the Centre for Journalism and Democracy, Julie Posetti shed light on the findings of this research. It is clear that the current state of affairs has left many concerned about the safety and well-being of these individuals.
The alarming rise in online harassment and real-world violence points to a pressing need for urgent action from governments, organizations, and communities worldwide. Until we see tangible efforts to address these issues, many more journalists and activists will continue to be targeted and silenced by those who seek to intimidate them.
i mean, can't we just get along & respect each other's opinions without resorting to hate? 
but seriously, it's so important for governments & orgs 2 take action & create a safe space 4 these women (and men!) 2 express themselves without fear of reprisal 
i've seen some of the tweets & stories that are being shared online about this issue and it's truly eye-opening... we need 2 come together & support each other 
this is so messed up 
I mean, can't we just keep the online world safe for everyone? 
it's crazy that nearly 3/4 of women in journalism are getting bullied online & some even got physical harm 
. like, what's next? 
we need to come together as a global community to stop this kind of abuse & protect these brave individuals who just wanna share their stories & make a difference 
. As someone who's passionate about free speech and democracy, it breaks my heart to see women in journalism and activism facing this kind of abuse 
We need better protections for journalists and activists, and for regular people who just want to express themselves without fear of reprisal 
!
This is so frustrating! It's wild that three-quarters of women in journalism are facing online abuse - like, what even is the point of reporting on important stories if they're just gonna get harassed all day? 
. Can't we just have a safe and supportive online community?! 
- like, what kind of society allows this to happen? But on the other hand, can we really blame these journalists for being a bit too outspoken or provocative online? I mean, they're already dealing with some pretty heavy stuff, so maybe they just get a little too caught up in the moment... 
And don't even get me started on physical harm - isn't that like, a pretty extreme reaction to someone sharing their opinions online? 
. I'm all for giving these women a platform, but come on, someone needs to take responsibility for this 
What's even more alarming is that 40% have reported physical harm. Like, what can be done to stop this?! 
The numbers are staggering - 2/3 of women in journalism have experienced some form of violence or abuse? That's a full-blown epidemic! 
. Can we please do something about this soon? 
. It's like, they're doing their job, reporting on important issues, and this is how they get repaid? It's a total shame and we need to do something about it ASAP 
. Otherwise, we're just going to keep seeing this trend of violence and harassment continue 
.