Online safety watchdog Ofcom has published new industry guidance requiring tech companies to provide safer online experiences for women and girls in the UK.
Our five new plans will help drive change and hold technology companies accountable. This includes ensuring compliance with legal obligations under online safety laws, strengthening industry codes, meeting with businesses to ensure close oversight, publicly reporting progress and highlighting real-world experience.
The company will also consider introducing messages asking users to reconsider before posting harmful content, imposing time limits on repeated attempts to abuse or target victims, and banning posts that promote misogynistic abuse and sexual violence.
The guidance was developed based on insights from victims, survivors, safety experts, women’s advocates, and organizations that work with men and boys.
The study found that during the recent World Cup, female footballers were 29% more likely to be targets of online abuse than male footballers.
Nearly 70% of boys ages 11 to 14 have been exposed to online content that promotes misogyny and other harmful views, and 73% of Gen Z social media users have witnessed misogynistic content online.
The Revenge Porn Helpline found that 98% of reported intimate images were of women, and 99% of deepfake intimate image abuse depicted women.
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Jess Carter has responded to the racist abuse she received at Euro 2025.
Sport England and WSL Football welcomed the guidance and called for better protection for female athletes on social media.
Dame Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom, said: “When we hear the stories of women and girls who have experienced online abuse, their stories are truly shocking. Survivors describe how a single image shared without their consent shattered their sense of self and safety. Journalists, politicians and athletes face constant trolling even while simply doing their jobs.
“No woman should have to think twice before expressing herself online, nor should she have to worry about her location being tracked by her abuser.
“That’s why today we’re sending a clear message to tech companies to take action and act in line with our practical industry guidance to protect female users from the very real online risks they face today.
“With the continued support of campaigners, advocacy groups and expert partners, we will hold companies to account and set a new standard for the online safety of women and girls in the UK.”
Sport England chief executive Chris Boardman added: “Harmful online abuse has a devastating impact offline. As women’s sport grows, so does the abuse of its stars, which affects women from all walks of life.
“This girl can do it Research shows that for many women and girls, fear of judgment is a huge barrier to exercising, and the horrific abuse of athletes makes the situation even worse.
“The hard-won gains in women’s sport must not be destroyed by misogyny, which is why we are supporting Ofcom to protect the participation of women and girls.”
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