#WomenBoycottTwitter Is Asking Women to Boycott Twitter for a Day in Protest
Following the suspension (and subsequent reinstatement) of Rose McGowan‘s Twitter account this week, women who use the social media platform are fighting back. The women boycott twitter hashtag was started Thursday afternoon, and quickly moved up the list of trending topics. Hundreds and hundreds of men and women are calling on users to stay off the popular social media platform on Friday, October 13. They’re hoping that by going dark, it will send a message to Twitter: women will no longer be silenced.
Twitter has come under fire recently for how it polices the content and users of the site. Death threats, rape threats, violence, and misogyny are just some of the things many women experience on a day-to-day basis while scrolling their TL.
The Rose McGowan suspension seemed to be the last straw. In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the actress has been vocal on Twitter, calling out hypocrisy and not backing down. Twitter said the suspension was a result of Rose tweeting out a phone number. However, the punishment seems to be completely arbitrary.
https://twitter.com/dianelyssa/status/918504787984953344
why didn't you ban Trump when he shared lindsey graham's phone number then?
— Brian at Wonderment (@bwhalley) October 12, 2017
Remember when the St. Louis police posted full names and addresses for nonviolent protesters they arrested and you guys did….uh.. nothing?
— erik ☭ (@thoughtxriot) October 12, 2017
Women Boycott Twitter was created in response to this and a very long list of ways Twitter has failed to protect it’s users (women in particular). So far, there are lots of people on board.
Tomorrow we stand with @rosemcgowan & survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, & abuse. We join those choosing to boycott Twitter. pic.twitter.com/aoGogV8FNs
— Refinery29 (@Refinery29) October 13, 2017
Tomorrow I follow the Women. #WomenBoycottTwitter
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 13, 2017
Signing off in solidarity with @jemelehill, survivors of abuse, and the women and girls who want @Twitter to do better. #WomenBoycottTwitter pic.twitter.com/aYTEVQIU6X
— Jamil Smith جميل كريم (@JamilSmith) October 13, 2017
Tomorrow (Friday the 13th) will be the first day in over 10 years that I won’t tweet. Join me. #WomenBoycottTwitter pic.twitter.com/xoEt5Bwj5s
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 13, 2017
Ladies. Let's do this. #WomenBoycottTwitter. Not because of hate but because I love this platform and know it can be better.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) October 13, 2017
Chrissy Teigen also shared another tweet. It really highlights why this is happening.
My mentions since posting #WomenBoycottTwitter 3 minutes ago #thisiswhy pic.twitter.com/c1GKSmBu32
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) October 13, 2017
This is what many, MANY women experience on Twitter. Every single day. Tweets are reported, all the time. But by and large, they’re found to not be in violation of the rules. Arguably, threatening to rape someone should get you banned. Right? Turns out, not so much!
So if you open the Twitters today and notice it’s a ghost town, there’s a good reason. Women are fed up. People are fed up. Twitter shouldn’t profit off abuse. We deserve better.
Tomorrow. And maybe even forever. #WomenBoycottTwitter
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) October 13, 2017
If you feel inclined, maybe hide your Twitter app today. Take a mental health day! Lord knows we all need one. Or hope on over to Facebook. Surely someone’s racist grandma is looking for a fight.
Also read:
- This Mom Made a Fake Instagram Account Just to Troll Her Teenage Daughter, and It’s Hilarious
- Twitter Rolls Out 280 Character Tweets, and the Reactions Are Amazing
- Ted Cruz Finds Out the, Um, Hard Way That Trending on Twitter Isn’t Always Good
(Image: Twitter / @Alyssa_Milano)
