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CHANGE THE RECORD

Change the Record is a collaboration between Amnesty and musicians, giving artists a platform to spark meaningful and personal conversations about the Human Rights issues that matter to them most. ​ 

Mahalia Presents: Change the Record

MAHALIA & AMNESTY: CHANGING THE RECORD ON ONLINE MISOGYNY

To mark International Women’s Day, award-winning R&B artist Mahalia joined forces with Amnesty International UK for Change the Record—a powerful event where some of the UK’s most exciting artists used their voices to call out online misogyny. The event highlighted shocking new research from Amnesty, revealing that a toxic digital culture is driving young people—especially women—away from social media.   

70% of Gen Z believe that misogyny on social media is getting worse

The Reality of Online Misogyny 

  • 73% of Gen Z social media users have witnessed misogynistic content, with half seeing it weekly. 

  • 70% say misogynistic and divisive language is increasing online. 

  • 55% worry about encountering misogynistic content, and less than half (49%) feel safe on social media. 

  • TikTok is the worst offender, with 70% of users reporting misogyny—rising to 80% among women. 

44% of Gen Z women have received unsolicited explicit images

Gen Z women report high levels of online harassment, including: 

  • 53% receiving inappropriate emojis (💦)
  • 44% receiving unsolicited explicit images 
  • 43% experiencing body shaming 
  • 40% facing unwanted sexual comments 
  • 32% subjected to hate speech 
  • 27% reporting online stalking 

The Impact 

Online misogyny is affecting mental health and online behaviour: 

  • 44% of Gen Z women say exposure to misogynistic content has harmed their mental health. 
  • 35% have switched accounts to private, while 20% have left platforms altogether. 

Who’s Fuelling the Hate? 

  • Men cite Andrew Tate (50%) as a key source of misogyny, while women point to Donald Trump (58%). 
  • 61% of Gen Z believe political leaders are worsening online misogyny.
  • 55% say TikTok actively contributes to the problem. 
1 in 2 Gen Z men name Andrew Tate as a key source of online misogyny

Time for Action 

Social media should be a place for creativity and connection—not a breeding ground for hate. Gen Z is demanding change: 

  • 65% believe tech leaders must act. 
  • 39% want harsher penalties for offenders. 
  • 37% call for stronger reporting and blocking tools. 
Social media should be a place where we lift each other up, not a space that forces women to shrink themselves or hide. This research is a wake-up call—but more importantly, it’s a call to action. Women’s rights are human rights, and I stand with Amnesty in demanding we change the record.

The conversation has started, but the fight isn’t over. Join us in taking action. Let’s hold tech companies accountable and demand safer online spaces for everyone. #ChangeTheRecord 

Amnesty is calling for urgent action from social media platforms, policymakers, and tech leaders to tackle the epidemic of online misogyny. The key demands include: 

What Needs to Change? 

🔹 Stronger content moderation – Platforms must swiftly remove misogynistic content and enforce their own policies consistently. 

🔹 Better reporting tools – Social media companies must improve mechanisms for users to report and block abuse effectively. 

🔹 Harsher penalties for offenders – Perpetrators of online misogyny should face meaningful consequences for their actions. 

🔹 Increased transparency – Tech companies must openly share data on how they are tackling misogynistic abuse. 

Why It Matters 

Social media should be a space for connection, not harassment. Yet, tech companies continue to prioritise profit over people’s safety, allowing misogyny to flourish. Amnesty is demanding that they step up, take responsibility, and protect users from harm. 

How You Can Help 

📢 Call out online misogyny when you see it 
💬 Support and amplify the voices of women and marginalised groups 

It’s time to hold tech giants accountable and #ChangeTheRecord on online misogyny. 

 

This research was conducted by Savanta on behalf of Amnesty International to understand Gen Z's experiences and perceptions of online misogyny. A poll of 3,024 UK respondents aged 16 to 25 (Gen Z) were surveyed between 13 February and 19 February 2025. Data was weighted to be representative of all UK respondents aged 16 to 25 by gender, age, region, SEG and ethnicity. Savanta is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. 

Data tables

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