Following on from our focus on how online harm impacts women and girls, we are hearing from Carmel Glassbrook, who is focusing on this issue from a safeguarding and education perspective. Carmel is Helpline Manager for the Professionals Online Safety Helpline and understands first-hand the safeguarding issues impacting young people and the professionals who oversee their care.
For our interview, Carmel has been able to provide a balanced perspective on the harm that girls face online, including the outcomes young people experience when they do report issues.
Interview with Carmel Glassbrook
Your role focuses on safeguarding children and young people. We have recently been exploring how online harm affects women and girls, what do you think are the main issues affecting young people now?
While the focus is on women and girls, it is important to recognise that the issues affecting them also have a direct impact on boys and young men.
We are seeing a notable increase in misogynistic content and harmful gender narratives being shared online. This has clear and damaging consequences for girls, particularly in terms of how they are treated, perceived, and valued online and offline. However, it also affects boys, who may feel pressure to conform to exaggerated ideas of masculinity. This can discourage them from expressing vulnerability, seeking support, or asking for help with challenges they may be facing.
Together, these dynamics are contributing to a more toxic online environment for all young people. Combined with the intensity of online life, where access is constant and content is highly immersive, there is a growing risk that young people can be drawn into more extreme or polarised ways of thinking.
What advice would you give to professionals such as teachers and safeguarding leads, as the young people in their care continue to be affected by these issues?
Life is about balance. While the internet offers significant benefits, it is equally important to encourage young people to explore activities and interests beyond technology.
At the same time, those working with children and young people should try to better understand their online lives. Taking a genuine interest and recognising the context of their digital world puts adults in a much stronger position to offer meaningful support when things go wrong.
When young people are affected by online harms, it is crucial that they feel there is a safe and trusted space to seek help. This means that when a young person chooses to disclose something, professionals should respond calmly and without judgement. Rather than overreacting or expressing negative opinions, the focus should be on listening, building trust, and working with the young person to understand what outcome they want and need.
What solutions would you like to see implemented to better protect young people online?
The focus on solutions is important, but I think we should also pay close attention to the outcomes young people experience when they do report issues.
Research suggests that when a young person does come forward, they do not always receive a positive or effective outcome. This can become a significant barrier, leading some to question whether there is any point in reporting at all.
As a sector, we need to address this gap. That means not only improving reporting mechanisms, but also ensuring that responses are appropriate and centred on the needs of the young person. We must work to reduce these barriers and build systems that give young people confidence that they will be heard, supported, and able to get help when they need it most.
Finally, why is it important that we continue to highlight how online abuse disproportionately impacts women and girls?
I have witnessed girls being abused in this way online throughout my time on this helpline, which is now over 10 years. They experience forms of online abuse including sexual harassment, image-based abuse, and gender-based intimidation, which are often persistent and targeted. These experiences can have a profound impact on confidence and overall wellbeing, sometimes leading to girls withdrawing from online spaces, as well as from school or social settings.
By maintaining a clear focus on this disproportionate impact, we can work to ensure that responses from platforms, policymakers, and safeguarding professionals are appropriately designed and resourced. It also helps to challenge the normalisation of harmful behaviours and attitudes.
Accessing Support
Carmel’s perspective offers a unique insight into what professionals need to consider when it comes to how the young people in their care are affected by online behaviour. For those who need support to develop the appropriate avenues, our resources are here to help. Please explore our website and safeguarding solutions such as Whisper Anonymous Reporting, and ProjectEVOLVE Safeguarding.
If you are a professional working with children and young people, you can also reach out to the Professionals Online Safety Helpline by emailing helpline@saferinternet.org.uk.
