Africa Experiences Alarming Surge in Technology — Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. Lagos, Nigeria — 2025-12-19 Lead Paragraph: A recent study by Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a pan-African organisation, has uncovered an alarming increase in Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) across several African countries.
The research, released on International Human Rights Day, reveals that 67 percent of respondents have been victims of at least one form of digital violence, predominantly occurring on mainstream social media platforms.
The study, which involved Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, highlights the systemic failures, weak accountability, and unsafe online spaces contributing to the growing epidemic. PIN notes that understanding of TFGBV and effective solutions are limited, and the research takes a survivor-centred approach to uncover the emotional, social, and systemic dimensions of digital violence.
A significant finding is the disproportionate impact on young people, with those aged 18-34 accounting for the majority of survivors.
Most incidents occurred on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter), indicating the ongoing structural unsafety for many users, particularly women, activists, and advocates.
The report details a range of abuses, from sexual harassment and threats to severe violations such as stalking, non — consensual image sharing, hacking, sextortion, and identity-based harassment. Personal testimonies reveal the profound emotional, psychological, and reputational harm suffered by victims.
Despite the severity of the issue, formal systems like the police, employers, and public institutions remain underutilised due to fear, mistrust, or the expectation of inaction.
The study underscores survivors’resilience and their efforts to seek safer digital environments.
In response to these findings, PIN is calling for urgent action to make online spaces safer for everyone.
The organisation, which connects under — served young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures digital rights for all, has been working across Africa since 2017, promoting a rights-respecting continent. Further details on the interventions and strategies proposed by PIN are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The situation underscores the critical need for systemic change to advance democratic engagement, promote media pluralism, foster digital inclusion, and achieve gender equality across Africa.
