The digital world is full of potential, but it still has some significant gaps. We’re all familiar with the other disparities like gender pay gaps, leadership gaps, and economic opportunity gaps. The list goes on. However, we often overlook the gap concerning policies that are failing to protect the interests of marginalized groups online.
Despite women making up nearly half of the gaming industry, a staggering 75% of women report experiencing some form of harassment. This number only reflects reported incidents. It is safe to assume that the number would be higher, as women are often hesitant to report harassment. Gender-based online harassment is not only applicable to gaming. Women are often the targets of online harassment usually from extremist gatekeepers, within the industry, who believe women are there to “ruin their fun.
Challenges in the Metaverse
The metaverse presents similar challenges, presents similar challenges, with some women and LGBT+ people resorting to choosing masculine-presenting avatars as opposed to feminine-presenting avatars to avoid harassment. Women and LGBT+ people also tend to avoid using chat rooms where they have to speak to other users, to avoid being identified as a woman or queer person.
These coping mechanisms are not always foolproof. Exclusion from groups, being ignored by male players, and gendered or sexualized comments are commonplace in these industries. Many dismiss online harassment as a lesser evil compared to physical harm. This attitude perpetuates harassment and has led to inadequate policies that fail to address the real-life harm it causes, especially now that each online session lasts an average of 3 hours. During that time, both children and adults interact in ways they may not in person. Addressing online safety and closing these gaps has become even more critical.
Global Perspective on Online Safety
The need for robust online safety extends beyond the G7 countries. As the African gaming industry is on a quick upward trajectory, the continent shouldn’t be left behind in policy development to protect its gamers and internet users. Although the African gaming industry is still highly male-dominated, Africa’s growing population and innovation point to the same trends we see in other nations: the more the population grows, the more people will soon be online. It is necessary to create a safe environment for them before they get there.
Last year, UNESCO published its Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, a framework aiming to hold digital platforms accountable for user safety. The document emphasizes the importance of making the Internet a safe and accessible place for all. The EU Commission formed the Digital Services Safety Act, conducting robust audits on large online platforms to ensure safety for online users. Organizations like AUDRi, formed by Equality Now and Women Leading AI, are actively addressing the issue of digital rights for all. They advocate for policymakers to acknowledge potential abuses and create solutions aligned with international human rights laws to protect marginalized people online.
Building a Safer Digital Future
In her interview with Forbes Africa, Tsitsi Matekaire, a Zimbabwean women’s rights legal expert and the Global Lead of Equality Now’s End Sexual Exploitation program, emphasizes how easy it is for online harassment to escalate into real-world harm. She highlights why it’s important to recognize women’s rights and mitigate risks in the evolving tech space, just as African governments look to leverage the metaverse and other online platforms.
Harassment whether physical or not has real-world physiological effects on all who experience it. We cannot afford to set a precedent that marginalizes minorities in the new frontiers of tech, as they are the ones most likely to be exposed to such things. It’s vital that we support organisations like AUDRi, UNESCO, and the EU Commission who are working towards solutions for all.
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