Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence
Written by: Boitumelo Zwane
The rapid evolution of technology has connected people across the globe in ways unimaginable a few decades ago. From smartphones and social media to online gaming platforms, we can now build relationships and communities at the click of a button. But alongside these benefits, digital spaces have also created fertile ground for technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), harmful acts committed online that disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. TFGBV refers to harmful actions carried out through digital platforms based on gender or sexual identity, or by enforcing harmful gender norms. It includes cyberbullying, stalking, sextortion, hate speech, sexual harassment, defamation, and exploitation, often causing psychological, social, reputational, or even economic harm.
Sexting is the sending or sharing of nude, semi-nude, or sexually explicit images and messages through digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or email. While sexting between consenting adults is not inherently harmful, it can become dangerous when involving children, persons with disabilities, or non-consenting adults, where it may amount to child pornography or abuse. Cyberbullying refers to deliberate and repeated online harassment through digital devices. It includes posting harmful content, spreading false information, sharing private details, or humiliating someone online. In severe cases, cyberbullying can cross into criminal behaviour.
South Africa has several laws addressing sexting and cyberbullying such as Film and Publications Act (1996 which regulates harmful online content, especially involving children; Cybercrimes Act (2020) that criminalises online harassment, bullying, and related offences, while establishing a SAPS cybercrime unit. Protection from Harassment Act (2011) allows victims to seek protection orders against perpetrators while the Child Justice Act (2008) provides for the treatment of children involved in cybercrimes and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act (2021) recognises harassment and intimidation through electronic communication. Perpetrators may face charges including crimen injuria, assault, defamation, or extortion, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
Although anyone can fall victim, the most vulnerable groups include children targeted by predators for child pornography, and persons with disabilities. Women are targeted especially by intimate partners who are seeking control and men who may be targeted in cases of sextortion. LGBTQIA+ youth face heightened risks of online harassment.
Sexting and cyberbullying can cause deep emotional and psychological harm, including indignity, anxiety, depression, embarrassment, and social isolation. For young people, leaked images can have long-term reputational consequences, while in extreme cases, victims have been driven to suicide.
To address the issue, awareness becomes important to encourage society to think carefully before taking or sharing intimate images. Advocacy initiatives ought to incorporate digital literacy and online safety education into school curricula and community programmes, particularly to empower children and women, whilst targeting men and boys on ethical technology use to shift their norms and attitudes around technology use and online violence. Similarly, advocacy efforts must strengthen policies to recognise TFGBV as a source of violence, whilst fostering stricter accountability for technology companies in preventing and addressing gendered online abuse. Most importantly, community driven awareness interventions that challenge misogyny, and victim blaming must be promoted. Women and children must report blackmail and cyberbullying immediately and keep evidence (screenshots, texts, emails) to support legal action. Institutions such as SAPS, the Film and Publication Board, the South African Human Rights Commission, Commission for Gender Equality and civil courts are available to provide legal assistance and related redress.
While technology continues to shape our lives, it also exposes individuals to new forms of harm such as cyberbullying and coercion. This is why as a country we must create survivor focused resources to help victims navigate both legal and digital remedies, whilst bringing perpetrators to the book. With this understanding and interventions, South Africans can help build safer digital spaces for all.
This article is adapted from the developed digital education content on Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence script of 2024. The video clip of the recorded digital content is available in the YouTube page of the CGE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTe1fvMM8C4