Online hate speech has been a topic of public concern and research interest for some time. This report presents findings from Netsafe’s 2019 research regarding the personal experiences of adult New Zealanders in relation to online hate speech.

Women engaged in political life benefit from using social media. But characteristics of these platforms—specifically ease of communication, high volume of interactions, and anonymity—can lead to negative outcomes including cyber-harassment and the spread of misinformation, disinformation and harmful gender tropes.

This research from the Australia Institute estimates the cost of online harassment and cyberhate to have cost Australians an estimated total of $3.7 billion dollars in health costs and lost income.

This report details the key findings that have policy implications for the development of a comprehensive whole of community anti-bullying strategy for South Australia.

The findings in this report paint a worrying picture that Twitter can be a toxic place for its female users. The company’s failure to meet its responsibilities regarding violence and abuse means that many women feel they are no longer able to express themselves freely on the platform without fear of violence or abuse.