Digital platform

Last Updated 6/4/25

Definition: Online services and applications where users create accounts, share content, and interact with others, including social media, dating apps, gaming platforms, and messaging services.

Mitigation Strategies:

Real-time prompts for reconsideration Default to highest privacy settings Quarantine borderline content User-controlled content filters Safety onboarding & awareness training Update ranking model Rate limits on low trust accounts Transparent feedback and reporting Prioritized reporting

Synonyms

Social media platform, Online platform, Tech platform

Examples

Discord, Facebook, Grindr, Hinge, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, Tiktok, Tinder, X (fka Twitter), Xbox Live

Description

These platforms are where most TFGBV occurs, giving them direct control over user interactions and content distribution.

However, platform responses often fall short - one survey found that over half of those who reported intimate image abuse to platforms received no updates, and 50% of those who did receive responses were told the reported content didn't violate policies (Refuge, 2022).

Many platforms lack adequate safety measures, like robust age verification and effective moderation processes. Cross-platform coordination shows promise - the Tech Coalition's Lantern program resulted in over 100,000 account enforcement actions in 2024 through signal sharing between platforms.

References

Humane Intelligence. (2025). Digital violence, real world harm: Evaluating survivor-centric tools for intimate image abuse in the age of gen AI.
Refuge. (2022). Marked as unsafe: How online platforms are failing domestic abuse survivors. https://refuge.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Marked-as-Unsafe-report-FINAL.pdf
Tech Coalition. (2024). Annual Report 2024. https://www.technologycoalition.org/knowledge-hub/2024-annual-report

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