International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment in the digital age, where the internet has become both a powerful tool for empowerment and a space rife with challenges for women. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, underscores the importance of catalyzing the creation of a safer, more inclusive online environment for women and amplifying the voices of women content creators. As we celebrate the achievements of women worldwide, the focus on protecting women online and supporting female creators has never been more urgent.
By 2025, the digital world has become an integral part of daily life, with women increasingly using online platforms for education, entrepreneurship, and creative expression. However, the internet remains a double-edged sword. While it offers unprecedented opportunities for connection and growth, it also exposes women to significant risks, including cyberbullying, harassment, doxxing, and exploitation. Women, particularly those from marginalized communities, often bear the brunt of online abuse, which can silence their voices and limit their participation in digital spaces.
The protection of women online is a critical issue that demands collective action from the public, Government, tech companies, and civil society.
In 2025, several key initiatives can be initiated to address these challenges:
1. Stronger Legal Frameworks: Despite the existence of the Computer Misuse and Cybecrimes Act in Kenya, which make criminal certain acts of online violence, tt has rarely been used to prosecute online crimes including cyber-bullying, doxxing, cyber harassment, and revenge porn. It is also lost on us that the sections that specifically speak on these crimes are vague which makes it hard to prosecute anyone for these crimes. We call on Kenya to strengthen laws to combat online gender-based violence. These include stricter penalties for cyber-bullying, doxxing, cyber harassment, and revenge porn, and hate speech targeting women.
2. Platform accountability: Social media platforms and tech companies should be held more accountable for creating safer online environments. These include investing in more content moderation and developing AI-driven detection tools that can identify abusive content in Kenyan language. We also call for transparent reporting mechanisms to address harassment swiftly.
3. Digital literacy and empowerment: We need more education campaigns that empower women with the skills to protect themselves online. These digital literacy programs will equip women with the tools to navigate the internet safely.
4. Mental health support: In recognizing the emotional toll of online abuse, more organizations need to provide mental health resources tailored to women who experience cyber harassment. These include setting up hotlines, counseling services, and online support groups.
Empowering Women Content Creators
Women content creators are at the forefront of shaping digital culture, yet they often face disproportionate challenges, including harassment, and unequal monetization opportunities. International Women’s Day 2025 celebrates their contributions while advocating for their protection and empowerment:
1. Safe Spaces for Creativity: Platforms need to create dedicated safe spaces for women creators, free from harassment and discrimination. This includes implementing stricter community guidelines and providing creators with tools to block or filter abusive comments.
2. Equal monetization opportunities: Despite their growing influence, women creators often earn less than their male counterparts. There needs to be fairer monetization policies, including equitable ad revenue sharing and sponsorship opportunities.
3. Amplifying diverse voices: We need to make an effort to amplify the voices of women from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ women, women with disabilities, and refugees. It is important to promote content that reflects the full spectrum of women’s experiences.
4. Mentorship and networking: We need to set up programs that connect established women creators with emerging talent. These mentorship initiatives will provide guidance on navigating the digital landscape, building a personal brand, and overcoming challenges unique to women in the industry.
International Women’s Day 2025 serves as a reminder that the fight for gender equality extends into the digital realm. Protecting women online and empowering women content creators is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for building a more inclusive and equitable digital future. As we celebrate the achievements of women, let us also commit to creating a world where every woman can thrive online, free from fear and discrimination.
“When women are safe and empowered online, the entire world benefits.” Let’s make 2025 a turning point in the journey toward a safer, more inclusive digital world for all.