Tech companies are facing calls to eliminate online misogyny by intensifying their efforts to combat trolling and toxic abuse targeting women and girls.
Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, endorsed the new guidance from the media regulator and cautioned social media entities about their role in fostering “sexism” if they do not take action.
The recent guidelines from Ofcom urge online platforms to implement “prompts” prompting users to reconsider before sharing misogynistic or sexually violent content. They also recommend enforcing “timeouts” for users attempting to abuse platforms repeatedly to target victims.
In addition, Ofcom advises social media firms to de-monetize content promoting misogynistic abuse and diversify content in recommendation feeds to deter “toxic echo” chambers. Furthermore, platforms are encouraged to consider setting volume limits on posts to prevent mass posting of abusive content.
One of the suggestions is for companies to utilize automated technology like “hash-matching” to identify and remove non-consensual intimate images. Despite the guidance being non-binding, Internet Matters, an online safety organization, urges the Government to mandate its implementation.
Ms. Kendall emphasized that tech companies possess the tools to block and delete online misogyny, stressing that their inaction contributes to normalizing abuse against women and girls.
Rachel Huggins, the co-chief executive at Internet Matters, highlighted the need for the government to make Ofcom’s guidance a statutory Code of Practice to combat violence against women effectively.
Ofcom highlighted the pervasive online abuse faced by women in sports, politics, and other public domains daily. Sport England’s chairman raised concerns about the abuse directed at the England Women’s team during Euro 2025.
Furthermore, Parliament’s youngest female MP, Rosie Wrighting, shared her experience of facing insults online, emphasizing the deterrent effect of such abuse on women entering politics.
Ofcom’s guidance, which encompasses various providers, urges platforms to assume more responsibility for safeguarding users online. The regulator plans to assess individual companies’ progress by summer 2027 and may make formal recommendations to the Government if necessary.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, stressed the importance of tech firms adhering to the guidelines to protect female users from online risks.
