In Pakistan, online spaces offer varied experiences to men and women. Where most men can easily access these virtual spaces, women have to climb a series of barriers to claim their presence on online platforms. However, those who do have access to virtual avenues often have to deal with further challenges that stem from patriarchal structures and practices.
Online spaces pose a perpetual threat of bullying, harassment, and gender-based violence to women. There are plenty of glaring examples of female journalists, celebrities, and members of civil society being targeted with structured hate and disinformation campaigns online and how the abuse undermines their work. The incidents of violence against women online reflect the practices of gender based discrimination prevalent in the physical world. This violence takes many forms, including harassment, doxxing, blackmailing, impersonation, and stalking. Unfortunately, regressive regulations and draconian measures by the state render victims more vulnerable in the face of abuse and leave them with no healthy or effective options to guard their basic rights in the virtual world.
The recent controversy involving leading female actors of Pakistan’s entertainment industry speaks volumes about how mere allegations can set off a storm of hate and trolling against women on social media. In one of his widely reported on videos, YouTuber Adeel Raja gave initials for the names of four leading entertainers and accused them of fraternising with former military officials. The video blew up on the internet and several blog pages and random accounts started circulating photos of the actors based on the initials, amplifying the vile allegations that the YouTuber had evidently failed to substantiate with proof.
The viral claims and character assassination of the named actors were widely condemned on social media by fellow entertainers and supporters, but that did not cease the bullying or harassment. Many very conveniently ascribed the actors’ successes and accolades to ‘association’ with the top military leadership, undermining their reputation and opening floodgates for increased vicious attacks and ridicule.
Raja’s video of his unfounded claims against the four actors became one of the most viewed on his YouTube channel and a large number of people showed support for him in the comments section. This incident highlights how baseless accusations against women, irrespective of their position in society, can be used to gain traction on social media, but there is little scrutiny of the person making these allegations. Even after the video being retracted, Raja’s channel will continue to cash in on the controversy as a result of the virality his sensational claims have generated. The incident, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Women frequently have to deal with hate and harassment on social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, no matter which strata of society they belong to. The abuse can have a significant impact on their online engagement, forcing them to think twice before expressing themselves in the digital realm. Consequently, they may practise self-censorship and feel restricted in their ability to use and fully engage with social media platforms. These impacts can extend beyond the virtual world, influencing how women feel and behave in their everyday lives, and, given the digital evolution that is reshaping the globe, will only make online spaces more hostile and exclusionary for them.
