There are growing concerns online abuse is shutting down crucial conversations and pushing out voices, and ultimately threatening the health of Australia's democracy.
She found online abuse can have devastating offline implications: Some female MPs said they'd had to move house and increase security because of ongoing threats, while others said they'd left politics altogether.
Staff who manage politicians' social media accounts are also exposed to online abuse, with potentially catastrophic consequences. "I can't count on both hands the number of women who won't go on Twitter," she said. "It's having a silencing effect. I used to have a lot of fun on Twitter but now I'm very cautious about the words I use and what I say. It reminds me of how women are careful about what they wear at night to avoid attacks."claiming that online abuse was having a "chilling effect" on women wanting to serve on local councils.
NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi did not anticipate the level of abuse she would receive as Australia's first female Muslim senator. The more she speaks up, she said, the more she's targeted. But it also takes a toll on the willingness of marginalised communities to participate in democracy, she believes:
"Leaders should call it out, and not do it themselves," she said. "It is not uncommon for politicians to dog whistle or to spark outright racism or to stand on the sidelines and not say anything. That needs to change.""relies on the participation of citizens" and the central tenants of democracy include tolerance of opposing ideas and freedom of speech.
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