Latest news with #JenniOlson
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
LGBTQ Social Media Users' Safety Is So Bad That GLAAD Changed the Way It Reviews Apps for a ‘More Complete Picture'
GLAAD issued its 'alarming' Social Media Safety Index report on Tuesday, which found that, after significant rollbacks in protected speech, social media platforms are overwhelmingly failing to protect LGBTQ people. The year-to-year decline is so sharp in the study, now in its fifth year, that the nonprofit advocacy group ditched its previous letter-grade system for a numeric one to more accurately reflect how negative platforms including X, Facebook and YouTube can be for the queer community, Jenni Olson, senior director of social media at GLAAD, told TheWrap. 'It became clear that the letter grades system wasn't fully reflecting the levels the platforms were at since they all would have just gotten F grades. The numeric ratings give a more complete picture,' Olson explained. In 2024, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads and X all received a grade of F, while TikTok earned only a slightly better D+: For 2025, the platforms were rated numerically, with TikTok at 56/100; Facebook: 45/100; Instagram: 45/100; YouTube: 41/100; Threads: 40/100; and X the lowest at 30/100. 'The terrible rollbacks from Meta and YouTube are the most important news this year,' Olson said, referring to both company's recent decisions to allow previously prohibited hate speech, such as references to LGBTQ people being 'abnormal' and 'mentally ill' as well as the use of pejorative terms such as 'tranny' and 'transgenderism.' 'It is especially horrible that YouTube removed gender identity from its list of protected characteristics — and yet is continuing to state that the policy hasn't changed, when it very clearly has … This is just unprecedented for a major platform. It is extremely concerning for a company to remove a protected characteristic group from a hate speech policy,' Olson said. 'At a time when real-world violence and harassment against LGBTQ people is on the rise, social media companies are profiting from the flames of anti-LGBTQ hate instead of ensuring the basic safety of LGBTQ users,' GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement shared with TheWrap. 'These low scores should terrify anyone who cares about creating safer, more inclusive online spaces,' she added. Trans activist and journalist Imara Jones recently told TheWrap that X (formerly known as Twitter) is 'the most dangerous platform,' while the relatively new Bluesky, which was not included in GLAAD's report, is 'definitely much better' in moderating anti-trans speech. According to the report, online anti-trans hate, harassment and disinformation have skyrocketed in the past year, while some platforms 'disproportionately suppress LGBTQ content, via removal, demonetization and forms of shadowbanning.' The report analyzed 14 indicators affecting LGBTQ people online, including data privacy, moderation transparency, training of content moderators and workforce diversity. It was created in partnership with Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) and research consultant Andrea Hackl. Read the full GLAAD Social Media Safety Index report here. The post LGBTQ Social Media Users' Safety Is So Bad That GLAAD Changed the Way It Reviews Apps for a 'More Complete Picture' appeared first on TheWrap.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
GLAAD: Social media's hate policy rollbacks are "appalling"
Meta 's and YouTube's updated moderation policies are threatening the safety of and harming LBGTQ people, according to a new report from GLAAD. The big picture:"Recent years undeniably illustrate how online hate speech and misinformation negatively influence public opinion, legislation, and the real-world safety and health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people," GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. "It's just appalling to see such extreme shifts away from best practices in trust and safety," Jenni Olson, senior director of GLAAD's Social Media Safety Program, told Axios. "Execs and employees at these companies owe the LGBTQ community answers about what their next steps are going to be to address these issues and stand up for the safety of their LGBTQ users," she said. Driving the news: In its annual Social Media Safety Index, GLAAD gave failing scores (out of 100) to all six of the platforms it tracks with TikTok at 56, Facebook and Instagram both at 45, YouTube at 41, Threads at 40 and X at 30. GLAAD's report analyzed 14 indicators, including having public policies that protect LGBTQ people from hate, harassment and violence, and that prohibit content promoting so-called conversion therapy. While all six platforms received failing scores, TikTok received the highest as it prohibits misgendering and deadnaming along with "conversion therapy" content, the report said. But the report criticized TikTok's transparency. "Major ideological shifts from Meta have been particularly extreme," Ellis said. The study suggested Meta remove "harmful exceptions" in its policy, such as their decision to now allow debunked "allegations of mental illness or abnormality" when it comes to gender and sexual orientation. Catch up quick: Meta relaxed its moderation policies in January, which immediately raised concerns about leading to more real-world violence. Meta's Oversight Board called on the company to investigate the impact on human rights. YouTube also removed "gender identity and expression" from its protected characteristic groups on its site. The company said its policies have not changed, but GLAAD noted "it is an objective fact that the gender identity protection is no longer expressly present in its public-facing policy." Between the lines: GLAAD changed its scorecard methodology, which negates year-to-year comparisons. The report has been released annually since 2021, as Axios' Ina Fried was first to report. The other side: TikTok, Meta and X did not respond to requests for comment. YouTube: " We confirmed earlier this year our hate speech policy hasn't changed. We have strict policies against content that promotes hatred or violence against members of the LGBTQ+ community and we continue to be vigilant in our efforts to quickly detect and remove this content," Boot Bullwinkle, a YouTube spokesperson, said in a statement to Axios. What we're watching: GLAAD offered five key recommendations in its report for the social media platforms.
