By Aissata Sall, Global Fund for Women, October 11, 2021
Last week, a whistleblower testified to US Congress about failures at Facebook, including that Facebook knows Instagram is toxic for teenage girls and that its algorithms promote harmful content, particularly around body image. We need an investigation of the data presented by the Facebook whistleblower—moreover policymakers should enact regulations holding tech companies accountable. Many—including those who are most impacted by tech and algorithmic injustice such as young people, Black women, and women of color—have critiqued Facebook and other tech platforms for years.
Members of Global Fund for Women’s Adolescent Advisory Council (AGAC)—Polina, Aweqawe, Marla, Giovanna, and Rajasi—join voices from all around the world today to highlight how #GirlsLeadInTech. Girls, young women, and non-binary youth are determined that technology and innovation be keys to the world they wish to live in: tools for freedom of expression, for mobilizing, for creativity and joy.
And they are putting these tools to good use—young people are relying on digital spaces for their activism and movement-building work more than ever before. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis they have increased online organizing, created spaces for solidarity and convening, built digital networks and communities—all while navigating growing authoritarianism, ongoing colonialism, patriarchy, and ageism in their everyday lives and online.
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