⥠The Hidden Power Behind Your Feed: Digital Citizenship & Conflict in Online Spaces
đĽ Digital Citizenship Isnât Always Peaceful
Conflict on social media reminds us that digital citizenship is about powerâpower over speech, platforms, and visibility (Mossberger et al., 2008). Governance doesnât just happen in boardrooms or courtrooms. It happens in Facebook groups, subreddit rules, and Twitterâs trending tab.
As Marwick & Caplan (2018) argue, harassment isnât always isolated; itâs networked, often driven by organized hate (e.g., Gamergate). Trolling, flaming, doxxing, image-based abuseâtheyâre not bugs. Theyâre part of how conflict operates in digital communities.
đ§ Who Gets Targetedâand Why?
Research consistently shows that women, girls, and trans people are disproportionately targeted by online harassment (Haslop, OâRourke & Southern, 2021). A Plan International (2020) survey of 14,000 girls in 31 countries found 59% had experienced abusive language online. And a Guardian study revealed that 8 out of the 10 most abused columnists were womenâhalf of whom were women of colour (Gardiner et al., 2016).
These numbers matter because they expose the myth that the internet is a neutral space. It isnât. Cyberhate reflects real-world systems of sexism, racism, and transphobia.
đ§ So... What Can Be Done?
While legal action is now better supported in Australia (e.g., Online Safety Act 2021), legislation alone isnât enough. Solutions must be multi-layered:
Legal: Platforms must comply with removal orders within 24 hours under new laws (eSafety Commissioner, 2022).
Humour & Art: Comics like Hannah Gadsby use comedy as resistance.
Advocacy: Platforms like eSafety provide tools for reporting and protection.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Brands must stand with influencers, not just profit from them (Littleton in Crowther & Rayman-Bacchus, 2016).
Letâs be clear: if a brand uses influencers to reach audiences, they must also protect those influencers from digital abuse.
đ Final Thought: Governance Is Ours to Shape
We must stop thinking of governance as something done to us by big tech. Itâs also something we participate in. Whether you mod a Discord server or run a TikTok page, youâre part of the ecosystem of governance.
Conflict isn't just chaosâit's data. It tells us where systems fail, and where citizenship demands more than silent participation.
đ References
Gardiner, B., Mansfield, M., Anderson, I., Holder, J., Louter, D., & Ulmanu, M. (2016). The dark side of Guardian comments. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/12/the-dark-side-of-guardian-comments
Haslop, C., OâRourke, S., & Southern, J. (2021). Online harassment and identity. Feminist Media Studies.
Marwick, A. E., & Caplan, R. (2018). Drinking male tears: Language, the manosphere, and networked harassment. *Feminist Media Studies, 18(4), 543â559. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568
Haslop, C., OâRourke, F., & Southern, R. (2021). Gendered cyberhate, victim-blaming, and why the internet is more like a menâs rights activist than a feminist. New Media & Society, 23(6), 1548â1567. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820912543
Plan International. (2020).Free to be online? Girlsâ and young womenâs experiences of online harassment.https://plan-international.org/publications/free-to-be-online
eSafety Commissioner. (2022).Online Safety Act 2021: What you need to know. https://www.esafety.gov.au











