Social media tends to be a toxic place in general. It’s not good for anyone’s mental health, and it’s been known to exacerbate eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and bullying. But despite knowing all of this, it’s estimated that over 93% of the world’s internet users have at least some form of social media.
Even if you’re just there to post cute pictures of your cat or find inspiration for what to cook for dinner, there’s a good chance you’re going to eventually encounter some extremely toxic content. And if you’re a woman, you probably won’t have to look hard to find some misogynistic posts.
One 2025 survey found that a whopping 73% of Gen Z social media users say they’ve encountered misogynistic content online. Half of them noted that they see this kind of content at least once a week. And it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon, as 70% of those surveyed say that this kind of rhetoric has been increasing on social media.
Over half of Gen Z women say they’ve received inappropriate emojis from men on social media, while 44% say they’ve been sent unsolicited explicit images. At the same time, 43% have been body-shamed online, and 40% have been subjected to unwanted suggestive comments. 32% have even experienced hate speech, and over a quarter of Gen Z women say they’ve been stalked online.
Apparently, TikTok is the worst offender when it comes to this kind of toxic behavior. 80% of Gen Z women say they’ve experienced it on that platform, while 61% say they’ve been targeted on Instagram. Unfortunately, women from marginalized communities are even more vulnerable to this kind of harassment. Nearly a third of Gen Z women with disabilities say they’ve received threats of violence against them, compared to only 18% of all Gen Z women who have experienced misogyny online.
While it’s easy for someone who has never experienced this kind of behavior to assume that women can simply log off and ignore it, it’s not that simple. It’s crucial that we call out and put a stop to these kinds of comments because they can take a significant toll on the individuals being targeted. In fact, 44% of Gen Z women who have experienced misogyny online say it has negatively impacted their mental health.
It’s also important to point out that these kinds of comments and concerning behaviors don’t just stay online. They’re being spread by real people, and they can have real-world implications.
Men frequently cited Andrew Tate as a key figure in spreading these toxic attitudes, but Donald Trump was often named as a contributor as well. 61% of Gen Zers believe that political leaders’ rhetoric and actions are directly fueling this kind of toxicity online. And nearly half blame statements and actions made by tech leaders for exacerbating the problem.
Online, it can sometimes be difficult to determine if someone is joking or ragebaiting. But no matter what their intentions are, it’s dangerous and harmful to share misogynistic content on the internet, especially when it might be seen by impressionable young minds. A UK survey even found that 66% of boys between the ages of 11 and 14 reported that seeing misogynistic content online makes them feel worried, sad, or scared.
