A report from The Open University has pulled back the curtain on the realities of online violence and abuse against women and girls in Scotland – the report’s data points to nothing short of an endemic.

Drawing from an extensive survey, the report offers an empirical analysis of the scale and impact of this pervasive issue, revealing statistics that underscore the imperative for immediate action.

Professor Olga Jurasz, lead researcher on the project, expressed grave concern over the findings, stating, “Our data paints a stark and troubling picture of the challenges faced by women and girls in navigating the digital sphere. It is imperative that we confront these issues head-on to safeguard the well-being and safety of all individuals.”

The report reveals that one in three young women in Scotland, aged 16 to 34, have experienced online violence, while an alarming one in two LGBTQIA+ women have fallen victim to such abuse. Moreover, nearly one in three women in Glasgow reported experiencing online violence, highlighting the city as a focal point for these distressing incidents.

Notably, the prevalence of online violence extends beyond direct victims, with significant numbers of men also witnessing such abuse. In Glasgow alone, nearly one in three men reported having witnessed online violence at least once in their lifetimes.

The nature of these incidents, largely, involve text-based, sexually explicit content, often perpetrated by anonymous individuals. Furthermore, the report identifies X/Twitter as the primary platform where women in Scotland are statistically most likely to experience online violence.

Despite the gravity of these findings, the report reveals a concerning lack of awareness and confidence among respondents regarding their online rights and avenues for recourse. Namely, only two out of three individuals were aware of the Online Safety Bill, demonstrating a critical gap in knowledge regarding legislative measures aimed at addressing online violence.

Moreover, the report underscores disparities in perceptions of safety online, with 68% of respondents identifying young people as the group least safe online. Additionally, 47% of participants agreed that women and girls are unsafe online, with notable regional variations in perception.

Further analysis of the data highlights the significant impact of online violence on mental health, with most women who experienced such abuse reporting detrimental effects on their well-being. Alarmingly, despite the profound impact on mental health, almost none of the women sought support from healthcare professionals or specialised organisations.

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The report also sheds light on attitudes towards legislative reform, with 71% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with existing legislation’s effectiveness in tackling online violence. Moreover, while there is significant support for new legislation, women and older individuals are more supportive of these proposals than men and younger people.

Professor Olga Jurasz, Professor of Law at The Open University and Director of the new Centre for Protecting Women Online, who designed and led the study, said: “This study gives a unique insight into women’s experiences of online violence, its scale and impact across the UK. It provides previously unavailable data which hopefully will lead the way to evidence-based law and policy interventions tackling the modern phenomenon of online violence against women and improving women’s safety online.”