Summary
Four linguistics researchers, Dr Alexandra Krendel, Veronika Koller, Mark McGlashan, and Jessica Aiston, submitted a response to Ofcom’s consultation on online safety for women and girls in May 2025. They focus on the role of manosphere communities and argue that “manosphere” should be considered under online misogyny. They note various subgroups such as incels, pick-up artists, MGTOW, and men’s rights advocates all spread harmful ideologies. They welcome Ofcom’s actions but offer detailed feedback on each proposed measure. They suggest conducting platform research on misogyny, involving external experts, and tracking risk indicators. They recommend using red-teaming to identify vulnerabilities in moderation systems. They propose default filters for manosphere content and downranking or removing harmful but legal posts. They stress giving users granular control, improving reporting tools, and enforcing penalties for offenders. They also highlight the need for transparency reports on misogynistic content and collaboration with NGOs. Overall, they advocate for stronger enforcement, mandatory data sharing, and ongoing oversight to protect women and girls online.
Author
Dr Alexandra Krendel, Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, University of Southampton.
Dr Veronika Koller, Professor of Discourse Studies, Lancaster University.
Dr Mark McGlashan, Lecturer in English Language & Linguistics, University of Liverpool.
Dr Jessica Aiston, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Queen Mary University of London.
