Researches shown that females are victimized in the virtual world. According to one of the International organisations rapid survey on 1.6 million people showed that nearly 91% of female respondents feel unsafe in social media (Facebook), and nearly 53% of female respondents faced online harassment.More than 40% of respondents don’t know where & how to report online harassment. Besides this, many global surveys have already confirmed that girls and women are the most victimized in the virtual sphere. In an intersectionality situation, they face even more harsh treatment. So the participation rate of girls and women in the online sphere is still low compare to men. Gender equality in the virtual world is required, as “Freedom is a right, not a PRIVILEGE”. Compare to a real-world scenario, girls and women can be found more vulnerable in the virtual world. Some causes are mentioned below:

Lack of Accountability Mechanism: We know the virtual world is a place full of surveillance. But there is no strict accountable mechanism for the users/consumers. So anyone can use it to humiliate anyone. Many evil-minded people use it to demean girls’ dignity in every possible way.Patriarchal Mentality:In the real world, a patriarchal mentality finds a girl as a sexual object. Girls are firmly told not to express their every opinion in public space. Every gender has been raising to behave in a certain way to ensure the exploitation circle. This reality also exists in the virtual world. Here girls are also the inferior ones. The subaltern voices also sound low in the virtual world as well. Even, most of the real-life powerful girls and women face online bullying, harassment frequently. Such reality works as a discourager for many millions of girls and women not to enter into the virtual world. Here we clearly realize the digital patriarchal exploitation. Here baseless allegations against girl’s character are one of the common injustices.

Mental Health Crisis: Usually, mental health is not nicely maintained like physical health. Though we all know both are important for overall well-being. Girls are facing sexual harassment in cyberspace. Even, many girls have confessed that they feel more harassed in digital space compares to the real world. Because of unspecific policies, cybercriminals can easily be escaped. And the self-esteem issues of the subaltern people remain the same! The negativity level of online reality is hilarious.

Male Dominance: Tech industries are male-dominated. The number of tech background female student is still so low. In developing or semi-developed countries, female participation is even lower. Until we can ensure a fair field, we have to adapt the necessary strategy for ensuring females’ participation. Males should be emphatic towards females’ extra barriers and include them for overall sustainable growth. Besides these, there are still many causes that remain untold regarding online safety.

Work together for gender equality: Social Changes never happen rapidly but slowly. Hence bringing positive changes; we must keep up our consistency alive towards our collective vision.

 Increase investments for girls’ participation in STEM

 Making social networking platforms more gender sensitive

 Expand vocational IT trainings for youths, girls and young women

No doubt girls and women are the most victimized. So for ensuring gender equity; government, civil society, industry, NGOs, INGOs, agencies of the UN; all have to work collaboratively. In short, all have to invest in the theme “Digital Generation”.