gendered misinformation silences women in Senegal’s digital spaces
In Senegal, women are disproportionately targeted by gendered misinformation campaigns that weaponize false narratives about their bodies, private lives, and morality. A recent study reveals that 61% of women surveyed in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire report being victims of such targeted disinformation, a phenomenon experts warn is reshaping public discourse and silencing female voices online.
how gendered misinformation differs from general disinformation
Unlike misinformation aimed at men—which often focuses on political, economic, or diplomatic issues—gendered disinformation in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire systematically undermines women’s legitimacy by attacking their character, morality, or intimate lives. Journalists, politicians, activists, and public figures are particularly vulnerable, with false claims often portraying them as morally corrupt, professionally compromised, or externally funded to delegitimize their work.
Sadia Mandjo, a journalist specializing in women’s rights in Africa, explains: “Gendered misinformation doesn’t challenge ideas—it assaults identity. It weaponizes body, sexuality, and private life to silence women who dare to occupy public space.”
the ’72-hour phenomenon’: a uniquely Senegalese threat
Senegalese women describe a particularly vicious tactic called the ‘72-hour phenomenon’, where targeted individuals—often activists, journalists, or female politicians—are subjected to coordinated online smear campaigns for three days. These campaigns don’t just spread falsehoods; they distort reality through photo manipulation, fabricated narratives, and deepfake content to portray victims as immoral or untrustworthy.
While male politicians may also face such attacks, the impact on women is far more severe, often forcing them into self-censorship or complete withdrawal from digital platforms. The goal, according to researchers, is clear: to remove women from public discourse entirely.
who is behind these campaigns?
According to the report, most perpetrators are men aged 17 to 45, often hailing from the same communities as their targets. While the study highlights a predominantly male-driven phenomenon, it also identifies a subset of women—dubbed ‘patriarchal women’—who actively participate in spreading these narratives, reinforcing systemic gender biases.
Social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, are criticized for their failure to address local-language disinformation. Many harmful posts are in Wolof or other Senegalese languages, yet content moderation tools and reporting mechanisms remain ill-equipped to detect and remove such material effectively.
real-world consequences of digital attacks
The study underscores the chilling effect of gendered misinformation. Many women who are publicly visible—politicians, journalists, feminists, artists, and influencers—report self-censoring online or withdrawing entirely from social media to avoid harassment. This retreat isn’t just a digital issue; it translates to reduced participation in public life, fewer women in leadership, and a shrinking space for feminist advocacy.
Mandjo warns: “When women leave online platforms, they don’t just disappear from the internet—they disappear from democracy.”
urgent calls for legal recognition
Researchers are urging Senegalese authorities to classify gendered digital violence as a form of gender-based violence, alongside sexual violence, femicide, and physical abuse. Such recognition would enable the development of specialized laws, police training, judicial reforms, and digital literacy programs to combat this growing threat.
The report emphasizes that gendered misinformation isn’t an isolated issue but a continuum of violence that mirrors offline gender-based abuse. In Senegal, where domestic and street violence against women remains alarmingly high, digital attacks are simply the newest front in a long-standing battle for gender equality.
Without decisive action, the study concludes, Senegal risks losing a generation of women leaders—not to physical violence, but to the silent erasure of their voices in the digital public square.
