The Angiolini Inquiry found that tackling violence against women and girls in public places was woefully inadequate. Yet three-quarters of girls have experienced harm online, too. With misogyny becoming mainstream through social media, Christian communities have a crucial role to play in educating young people in the digital age
When Lady Elish Angiolini KC’s report into the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public places was published recently, its conclusions were harsh. It criticised the limited data available and called for urgent action to prevent predators from offending.
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips told MPs that it was “inexcusable” that police forces had not carried out “the most basic work” to better protect women. Shockingly, the inquiry found that more than one in four police forces in England and Wales did not have basic policies in place for investigating sexual offences.
Reports of sextortion involving girls rose by a staggering 2,600 per cent in 2024
Running alongside this, there is another threat to girls and young women that the Angiolini inquiry was not set up to address: the dark side of the digital world. Often less visible than public crimes, online pressures and abuse can create harm that is every bit as real, but harder to spot and therefore deal with.
Not just numbers
In 2024, Ofcom reported that 96 per cent of children aged three to 17 were online. The digital world is not optional; it is the air our young people breathe. And while it offers extraordinary opportunities for connection, learning and creativity, it also harbours dangers that disproportionately target girls and young women, exposing them to relentless pressures, toxic role models and gender-based abuse.
The statistics are chilling. Three‑quarters of females aged seven to 21 have experienced online harm. Reports of sextortion involving girls rose by a staggering 2,600 per cent in 2024. In more than 7,000 offences of sexual communication with a child, 81 per cent of victims were girls. Some were as young as eleven years old.
Teenagers exposed to this content are five times more likely to believe that hurting others is acceptable
These are not abstract numbers; they are people. The statistics are Elise*, a member of Girls’ Brigade, who battled eating disorders and low self‑esteem before finding strength in her faith. They are Caro*, who wishes she had the support of Girls’ Brigade as a frightened teenager and is now a volunteer leader so that others don’t have to go what she went through.
They are countless people whose lives are shaped by the digital currents they cannot easily escape. We must name the problem clearly: misogyny has moved from the margins into the mainstream. Influencers with millions of followers openly devalue women and girls, and research shows that teenagers exposed to this content are five times more likely to believe that hurting others is acceptable. This is not just a cultural issue; it is a moral crisis. As Christians, it must concern us deeply.
Turning a blind eye
The companies who own these social media platforms know what’s going on - and many of them choose to look the other way. The recent Bureau of Investigative Journalism expose revealed that social media platforms, including Tiktok, Meta, Google and Snapchat know their platform has a detrimental effect on users’ anxiety, addiction and body image.
So, what can be done?
Firstly, legislation must have teeth. The UK’s Online Safety Act rightly identifies harmful content, from pornography to self‑harm instructions, as ‘Primary Priority.’ However, enforcement remains a challenge. Age verification is notoriously difficult. Tech firms must be held accountable for the content they host. Compassion, as Tim Berners‑Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, recently reminded us, must be built into the very architecture of the internet.
Three‑quarters of girls and young women aged 7–21 have experienced online harm
Faith communities also have a vital role to play. Churches and Christian youth organisations must educate, advocate, as well as provide safe spaces for young people. As Girls’ Brigade, we run programmes such as ‘Staying Safe in the Digital World’ where we explore questions such as: What is truth? How do you know whether the images and posts you see are real or whether they’ve been enhanced? We then contrast this with biblical truth. Teaching young people to think carefully and question more deeply is a critical life skill.
It’s a missional priority for Christian communities to have open discussions with young people about the dangers of engaging with others online - and who they can contact if they’re worried or uncomfortable about something. Trusted adults - parents, teachers, youth leaders - are indispensable. Not every child has a supportive family, but every child deserves someone who will listen, guide and protect.
The digital age is here to stay. The question is whether we will allow it to erode the dignity of girls and young women, or whether we will rise to the challenge of shaping it with compassion, wisdom, and faith. At The Girls’ Brigade, we choose the latter. And we invite you to join us.
*names changed
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