The article exposes widespread sexual harassment, bullying, abuse, and threats of violence against women and girls within Meta's metaverse, raising serious concerns about its safety given Meta's past failures on existing social media platforms. Research from organizations like NSPCC and CCDH highlights frequent policy violations and a lack of effective moderation, with victims experiencing profound psychological trauma. The author argues for urgent regulation requiring proved safety standards at the design stage to prevent inequality from being embedded into future virtual worlds.
The misogyny of the metaverse: is Mark Zuckerberg’s dream world a no-go area for women?
WomenMetaThe metaverseMark ZuckerbergFacebookSexual harassmentSocial networkingSocietyTechnologyMedia
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The article exposes widespread sexual harassment, bullying, abuse, and threats of violence against women and girls within Meta's metaverse, raising serious concerns about its safety given Meta's past failures on existing social media platforms. Research from organizations like NSPCC and CCDH highlights frequent policy violations and a lack of effective moderation, with victims experiencing profound psychological trauma. The author argues for urgent regulation requiring proved safety standards at the design stage to prevent inequality from being embedded into future virtual worlds.
Trending- 1 2017-2023: NSPCC research indicates 47% of online grooming offences took place on Meta-owned products.
- 2 December 2021: A beta tester reported being virtually groped in Horizon platform.
- 3 2022: A TechCrunch report found human moderators were only available in the main plaza of Horizon Worlds.
- 4 2024: British police investigated the virtual gang-rape of a girl below 16 in the metaverse.
- Women and girls are unsafe in virtual spaces
- Victims experience psychological trauma similar to real-life assaults
- Prevention of women and girls from fully using and benefiting from new technology
- Inequality is being 'baked into' the building blocks of new virtual worlds
- Lack of effective moderation and response from Meta regarding abuse reports
What: The metaverse, particularly Meta's platforms, is plagued by misogyny, sexual harassment, and abuse, making it unsafe for women and girls.
When: Incidents reported from 2021 onwards; TechCrunch report from 2022; NSPCC research covers 2017-2023; virtual gang-rape revealed in 2024.
Where: The metaverse, specifically Meta-owned products like Horizon Worlds and other social media platforms.
Why: To highlight the pervasive and distressing nature of abuse in virtual reality, question Meta's ability to ensure user safety, and advocate for proactive regulation to prevent the entrenchment of inequality in future digital spaces.
How: Through personal research and experience within the metaverse, citing reports from the NSPCC and the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), and detailing specific incidents of abuse and Meta's inadequate responses.