Podgorica, (MINA) – In Montenegro, 18 percent of adults were the target of online attacks last year, most often because of their political views, but also because of their gender, appearance, disability, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity, according to research on social networks, online risks and digital violence carried out by Juventas.
This NGO announced that online attacks are most common on the most used platforms: Facebook 49 percent, Instagram 44 percent and TikTok 19 percent, and that they most commonly take form of offensive comments and ridicule.
“A significant part of the experiences includes more serious forms of digital violence, including sexualized comments, misogyny, homophobia, disturbing messages, sharing private content without permission, threats of violence, defamation and disinformation”, the press release said.
It is particularly concerning that 46 percent of citizens said that they do not react to offensive or dangerous content.
“Formal reporting mechanisms are hardly used: reports to administrator, institutions or NGOs remain at a very low level. At the same time, only 3.6 percent of citizens have great confidence that platforms respond adequately to reports”, the press release states.
It adds that these findings indicate that online harm is perpetuated not only by those who produce it, but also by the lack of clear, accessible and reliable protection mechanisms.
“That is why it is necessary for Montenegro to treat digital violence and harmful online content as a serious social and institutional challenge, rather than as a series of individual incidents. The response cannot depend only on the individuals who are the target of the attacks, nor on the goodwill of platforms. A system is needed that enables reporting, protection, support, prevention and accountability”, said Juventas.
It considers it necessary to establish a centralized online platform for reporting digital violence and hate speech, with a clear and visible explanation of what happens after submitting a report.
“The media outlets also have a responsibility. Comments on their social media accounts must not remain a space where hate speech, discrimination, threats and insults are spread freely”, Juventus added.
