Social Media Platforms Are Failing to Protect Girls
Recent research reveals a troubling reality: the most popular social media platforms are failing to safeguard girls, leaving them exposed to grooming, abuse, and harassment at every stage of their online experience.
The Alarming Findings
A recent poll shows that 86% of British adults believe technology companies are not doing enough to protect girls from harm on social media. Parents of girls aged 4-17 are particularly concerned, citing the following as their top worries:
Contact from strangers (41%)
Online grooming (40%)
Bullying from other children (37%)
Sexual abuse or harassment (36%)
These statistics highlight a stark reality: girls are being left vulnerable by platforms that prioritise engagement and profit over safety.
Where Social Media Is Falling Short
Despite promises of safety, reporting tools on major platforms are often complicated and ineffective, leaving young people feeling unsupported and unheard. Harmful content, including bullying, sexual harassment, and unsolicited contact from strangers, remains prevalent. The lack of robust, age-appropriate safeguards means that girls are frequently exposed to risks that can have long-lasting impacts on their well-being.
The Call for Change
There is a clear demand for social media companies to rethink their approach and design platforms with young girls’ safety as a priority. This includes:
Creating genuinely age-appropriate online experiences
Making reporting tools simple, clear, and effective
Providing rapid, human-led responses to reports of harm
Ensuring privacy and data protection are at the heart of platform design
The Online Safety Act 2023 now places a legal duty on tech companies to tackle illegal and harmful content, conduct regular risk assessments, and enforce age limits. However, meaningful change will only come if platforms go beyond compliance and put children’s safety at the centre of every decision.
Join Us in Building a Safer Digital World
Girls and young women deserve better from the online world. At Big. Sister, we believe in creating a digital environment where girls can thrive without fear. We call on tech companies, parents, and the wider community to join us in demanding higher standards and real accountability for online safety.
Together, we can ensure that every girl’s online experience is positive, empowering, and free from harm.
At Big Sister, we advocate for children's safety online. Our app marks a positive change in the way that our children are protected online, using flags and alerts to warn parents of dangerous content without breaking down trust and privacy barriers between children and adults.
Find out more about how to protect your children online without breaking their trust in our latest blog here.
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