Facebook Online Harassment Concerns Grow Among Global Activists
Online harassment on social media has reached alarming levels, with Facebook ranked as the worst platform according to a new survey of global environmental activists. The majority of respondents — more than 90% — reported experiencing abuse tied to their advocacy work. This rising tide of digital abuse has raised serious concerns about safety, misinformation, and real-world consequences for those defending land and environmental rights. The report, conducted by nonprofit Global Witness, paints a worrying picture of how Meta's platforms are impacting activists worldwide.
Why Facebook Tops the List for Online Harassment
Facebook stood out as the most frequently cited source of online harassment, with 62% of surveyed activists reporting abuse. This is notably higher than other platforms like WhatsApp (36%) and Instagram (26%), also owned by Meta. X (formerly Twitter) came in second overall, with 37% of activists citing it. One major factor may be Facebook’s massive global reach — with over 3 billion monthly active users — which naturally exposes users to a broader pool of content, including harmful interactions. Compounding the issue, Meta ended its third-party fact-checking program in January, a move that has left many fearing an uptick in misinformation and hate speech.
Digital Harassment Becoming a Real-World Threat
The damage isn’t confined to screens. About 75% of activists surveyed said the online abuse they experienced was linked to physical harm or threats offline. For those advocating for environmental protection — often in high-risk regions — this connection between digital and physical violence is particularly troubling. Ava Lee, a campaign strategy lead at Global Witness, emphasized how disturbingly high these numbers were, even compared to their already grim expectations. Many activists say the platforms have become breeding grounds for coordinated misinformation and intimidation campaigns designed to silence their work.
Calls for Meta to Act on Facebook Online Harassment
The findings are fueling fresh demands for Meta to take stronger action against harassment across its platforms. Activists and organizations alike are calling for more robust moderation tools, reinstatement of third-party fact-checking, and greater accountability. Critics argue that Meta’s shift toward a crowdsourced moderation model is ineffective against targeted abuse. With Facebook identified as the most toxic platform in the report, the pressure is on Meta to improve protections for users who face harassment simply for doing their jobs. Failure to act could allow the current digital hostility to escalate into even more dangerous territory.
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