Almost two-thirds of women journalists polled have experienced intimidation, threats or abuse in relation to their work. More than 25 percent of “verbal, written and/or physical intimidation including threats to family or friends” took place online.
--International Women’s Media Foundation and the International News Safety Institute, December 2013.
Twenty-five percent of young women online have been sexually harassed online and 26 percent have experienced stalking. Moreover, women overall are disproportionately targeted by the most severe forms of online abuse including doxxing and violent threats.
-- Pew Research Center, June 2014
During our beta period we support Twitter attacks with our virtual services. But we want to track where else we should deploy our services in the future. So please report your attacks to us below.
When you spot online threats, cyberharassment or other troll behavior against women writers, send an S.O.S. and we will be the first responders online, sending you, or whoever is under attack positive messages, virtual hugs or reputation repair services.
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TrollBusters was born at the International Women's Media Foundation hackathon for women news entrepreneurs in New York City on January 30, 2015. The problem -- Find a way to address trolls and cyberharassment that predominantly affects strong women voices online. Our solution -- Counter hate with love by sending positive, affirming messaging for the target to the point of attack. We provide a hedge of protection around the individual, helping to provide emotional support and reputation management during cyber crises.
TrollBusters won a top prize from Google at the International Women's Media Foundation hackathon in New York in January 2015. The team won $3,000 for development. The Knight Prototype Fund awarded $35,000 in development funds in April 2015 to TrollBusters to develop a prototype for the positive messaging service.
Read more about TrollBusters in the Press