Online threats, hatred and harassment have led people who feel discriminated against to create digital spaces where they can feel safe. According to a new thesis from the University of Gothenburg, these spaces are characterised by clear rules and constant maintenance and monitoring.
Much of social life today takes place online. Unfortunately, the worst aspects of interpersonal relationships also appear in the digital world. A study of 51 countries revealed that 38% of women had personally experienced online harassment. Bullying and harassment have led people to create their own digital safe spaces, which is the topic of Nadia Ruiz Bravo's thesis, at the Department of Applied IT at the University of Gothenburg.
"Many women have shared with me their experiences at game jams, which tend to be mostly populated by men, and how they have been discriminated against for being women," says Nadia Ruiz Bravo.
What sometimes happens is that the displaced create their own environments, free from oppression. These are called digital safe spaces. These groups are focusing on fostering support and bringing well-being to their participants.
Safe and secure
"Digital safe spaces are formed by online groups searching for somewhere to rest from harassment and oppression and where they can feel safe and secure," says Nadia Ruiz Bravo.
One example is the Women Game Jam, organised annually since 2018 and aimed mainly at women and non-binary people. Men are not completely excluded from these events but are in the minority.
"Digital safe spaces are often created on large platforms such as Discord or Facebook with layers of security and rules set by the organisers. Digital safe spaces can be used for any number of purposes, but they are often used to escape from online harassment and find support among people who may understand what they are going through. The rules adherence is monitored by moderators in the group. Together with the organisers, they have control over the space and can, if needed, kick out or block people who don't follow the rules," says Nadia Ruiz Bravo.
Raids against safe spaces
There are good reasons for the strict policy. There have been several cases of women's minority groups' spaces being 'raided.' i.e., a rapid surprise attack often carried out by hateful groups with the intention to hijack and destroy digital safe spaces. In the case of the video game spheres, raids towards digital safe spaces created for and by women can be interpreted as an expression of clinging to old gender structures, says Nadia Ruiz Bravo.
The video game industry has evolved from the tech industry and has inherited a masculine approach that has been difficult to change. Even today, there are talented female game developers who do not seek employment in the gaming industry. In a report from 2024 the percentage of women in the industry is 23%.
"Many women do not trust their skills in game development. But once they've been in female-dominated game jams, they realise their skills are enough. They blossom and have subsequently applied for and got jobs in the video game industry," says Nadia Ruiz Bravo.
Not only for gamers
So, these digital safe spaces can play a crucial role in individuals' lives. And it's not just in the video game industry. On several other platforms, digital safe spaces are being created. One example is a safe space created in the forum platform Reddit, where there are closed groups for people who have been sexually abused or patients with Alzheimer's disease. These groups are highly regulated due to the sensitive themes being discussed in those spaces. What the digital safe spaces have in common is that members feel the need to be protected from something. The group creates a community where they feel they belong.
"But these spaces are sensitive. There is a risk of organisers and moderators burning out due to the intensive work required to maintain these spaces. In addition, the perception of what is safe and secure may not be shared by everyone in the group, making the maintenance difficult. That's why I recommend pausing the groups occasionally and evaluating what has happened in the group. At the same time, there is an incredible power in finding community with others all over the world. I wish more people who are in vulnerable situations could find the digital safe spaces they need," says Nadia Ruiz Bravo.
The thesis: Digital Safe Spaces
