Online Safety Bill

Written evidence submitted by Girlguiding (OSB03)

Submission to the Public Bill Committee on the Online Safety Bill

1. Overview

1.1. As the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, we believe that the Online Safety Bill is an opportunity to ensure girls’ and women’s safety online. We welcome the inclusion of effective age verification controls to stop children accessing inappropriate content online. We also welcome the criminalisation of cyberflashing. However, we believe the Online Safety Bill cannot effectively protect women and girls from online abuse and harm if they are not mentioned in the Bill.

1.2. We recommend that the Bill is amended to include mention of women and girls, and the online abuse that they face. The Bill must also recognise the impact that online abuse and harm has on girls and women with intersecting characteristics so that girls and women of colour, LGBTQ+ women and girls, and disabled women and girls are not left behind.

1.3. The B ill must also recognise body image and appearance related harms, and the devastating impact this has on girls’ and young women’s mental health and wellbeing .

2. Our research

2.1. Our research shows the scale and impact of the online harm and abuse that girls and young women experience. Our most recent research published in February 2022 shows girls and young women aged 13-21 had experienced the following in the last year:

· Sexist comments (35%)

· Cyberflashing (22%)

· Sexual harassment (20%)

· Catfishing (20%)

· Pressure to share nude pictures (16%)

· Cyberstalking (13%)

2.2. 94% said they experienced negative emotions as a result with 76% saying it made them feel anxious, angry, scared, depressed or less confident in themselves. Only 15% think social media is a safe place for them. The majority (93%) of girls and young women said there should be laws to protect against online abuse and 67% don’t think the government is doing enough to stop online violence. 

2.3. Additionally, our 2021 Girls’ Attitudes Survey shows:

· 48% aged 11-16 and 59% aged 17-21 have seen hate speech online in the last year   

· 29% aged 7-10 have experienced mean comments online in the last year   

· 18% aged 11-16 and 24% aged 17-21 have experienced bullying online in the last year Bullying. This is higher for LGBQ girls and young women (29% compared to 20% who are straight)   

· 43% aged 11-16 and 57% aged 17-21 have experienced sexist comments or ‘jokes’ online in the last year. LGBQ girls and young women are more likely to experience this (72% compared to 44% who are straight) 

· 23% aged 11-16 and 33% aged 17-21 have experienced harassment ( e.g. unwanted messages or receiving threats. This is higher for LGBQ girls and young women (42% compared to 24% who are straight). Disabled girls are also more likely to be harassed online (40% compared to 25% without disabilities)   

· 18% aged 7-10, 28% aged 11-16 and 36% aged 17-21 have experienced people pretending to be someone they’re not online in the last year  

· 11% aged 7-10 have seen rude pictures online in the last year  

· 19% aged 11-16 and 33% aged 17-21 have been sent unwanted sexual images online in the last year   

· 9% of girls aged 13-16 have felt pressure to share images of themselves that they’re not comfortable with. This increases to 19% for 17-21s.  

· 40% aged 11-16 and 50% aged 17-21 have seen images online in the last year that made them feel insecure or less confident about themselves.   

· Girls and young women aged 11-21 say images online make them feel insecure because they all show the same ‘perfected look’ (78%), they feel pressured to look more like them (66%), they’re unrealistic (60%), they all show the same body type (52%), and they don’t look like the people in them (45%).   

3. Our recommendations

· We would like to see the Bill amended so that it recognises the scale and impact of violence and abuse against women and girls online.

· Recognition within the text of the Bill that online abuse disproportionately impacts girls and women especially those with multiple protected characteristics 

· Better prevention to address harassment and abuse of girls and women online, and for this to take an intersectional approach, recognising the experiences of girls of colour, LGBTQ+ girls, and disabled girls.  

· Body image and appearance related harms should be included in the duty of care and tackled within the Online Safety Bill    

4. What we’re doing:

· The Media critic interest badge for Guides allows them to develop media literacy.

· Our Free Being Me session helps girls increase their body confidence and challenges unhealthy beauty ideals. It encourages girls in Brownies and Guides to challenge myths and reframe the ways they think about the way they look.

· The Breaking Free peer education resource empowers young people to enjoy their hobbies, gain the skills they’re interested in and help bring about a world where nobody feels trapped by gender stereotypes. Through this resource, they can develop assertiveness, cultural awareness and media literacy.

· Our Safe the World peer education resource helps our members to understand, identify and take action against unsafe behaviours

5. About us 

5.1. Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. Thanks to the dedication and support of our amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We give them a space to have fun. We run Rainbows (4–7 years), Brownies (7–10 years), Guides (10–14 years) and Rangers (14–18 years). Registered Charity No. 306016.   

   

May 2022