Social media self-defence

Everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from using online spaces.

eSafety’s Women In The Spotlight (WITS) program offers social media self-defence training, to help women use online services and platforms more safely and effectively.

The training teaches women how to use tech tools to manage their social media safely, report online abuse and protect their own wellbeing, so they can confidently:

• communicate publicly
• make connections
• increase the reach of their voice
• develop their profile
• strengthen their reputation.

Why women?

Online spaces – including social media, gaming platforms and other interactive forums – can be challenging spaces for women to thrive in, because they are more likely than men to be targets of gendered abuse. Our research finds that, too often, women have avoided social media or stopped using it because of online abuse.

Social media self-defence training aims to help women raise their voices instead of being silenced. It’s an opportunity to advance gender equality, so all women are empowered to make choices about how they engage online.

What does the training cover?

Our social media self-defence training covers these topics:

1. How to recognise online abuse and the impact it has on women’s lives, including their work.
2. How to set up your social media accounts and profiles with safety in mind.
3. How to deal with online abuse through reporting and protecting your wellbeing. This includes information on the practical role eSafety has in safeguarding Australians from online harm.

For more information contact outreach@esafety.gov.au.