Victims live in fear knowing images of their abuse are circulating the web

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) has reported this week that Twitter is taking a stand against pornography on its platform. 

Twitter is now blocking several pornography-related search terms—particularly from results in the “Photos” and “Videos” section of the social media platform.

Now when users type in hashtags or keywords traditionally associated with pornography, they get this message:

Text: “Nothing came up for your search, which is a little weird. Maybe check what you searched for and try again.”

Here are my top 10 tips for getting the most of Twitter, as an individual or as a business/organisation!

After Tyler the Creator tagged Coralie Alison in a Tweet claiming he had been banned from entering Australia, our Operations Manager was subjected to an onslaught of vile abuse and rape and death threats from his fans. Award-winning journalist Victoria A. Brownworth wrote this piece in Curve magazine in response.

*Content warning*

Why Do Hundreds of Men Want to Rape and Kill Coralie Alison?

by Victoria A. Brownworth

I’m used to seeing attacks on feminists I know on Twitter. I’m used to reporting those attacks when I see them and tweeting solidarity to whomever is being victimized. But even I, a seasoned veteran of Twitter misogyny, was unprepared for what I saw the night of July 27 on Twitter.

Tweet after tweet after tweet, each more violent than the next attacking Coralie Alison, Director of Operations at Collective Shout, a non-profit in Melbourne, Australia dedicated to “a world free of sexploitation”–something all women and girls need.

I’ve tweeted with Coralie for a couple of years. She’s young, focused and gets stuff done. She’s the kind of feminist you want working on real-world issues.

One of the real-world issues of sexploitation she and Collective Shout have been addressing is misogyny in music–something the U.S. has just thrown up its hands over.

In June, Coralie and Collective Shout called on the Australian Immigration Minister to revoke rapper Tyler, The Creator’s (real name, Tyler Okonma) visa based on his violently anti-woman lyrics and his actions on a previous tour to Australia. Tyler was scheduled to perform in Australia in September.

*   *   *

That’s when the mayhem began. Even though there was no ban on Tyler–no decision has been made on his visa–the singer decided to tell his fans that there was. Then he sat back and watched the show.

In a statement responding to the tweet and the aftermath, Frontier Touring said: “The department for immigration has raised issues with the visa application, but it has not been refused and Frontier will update ticket holders as soon as more information comes to hand.”)

It took only minutes for Tyler’s fans to respond to his tweet blaming Coralie for banning him. Then the orchestrated attacks on her began.

†

@Flyroh_

@CoralieAlison Take a thick rope and put it around your neck and go for a 1080 suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge...

Big J

@bigjsweg

@CoralieAlison drink bleach and die slut

Brian D.

@AlwaysPolitical

@CoralieAlison Sit on a plunger you fat skank

nobody

@nobodygotshot

Can you help me clean my dads semen out of my asshole??? Thanks! @CoralieAlison

Decani

@xDecani

@CoralieAlison I want you to put a toothpick in your vagina, then thrust a wall as hard as you can.

uncle den

@nacitynac

@CoralieAlison take a bath with your toaster please

Read the full article at Curve Magazine. 

An online troll has used Twitter's paid for advertising service to impersonate Collective Shout activist Caitlin Roper.

Collective Shout activist writes on experience of online misogyny  

Women should be able to speak out without facing rape threats

Collective Shout activist Talitha Stone has launched a petition calling on Twitter to add a report abuse button to tweets. Please sign and share widely.

Has Tyler the Creator breached his Visa conditions?

Collective Shout has drawn the attention of Immigration Minister the Hon. Brendan O'Connor to a series of rape and other threats from fans of US rap artist Tyler the Creator. We believe these threats have been fuelled by the artist’s abuse of our actions online. We are asking the Minister to examine whether Tyler the Creator has violated the terms of his visa conditions. Our letter, written by Caitlin Roper our W.A coordinator, appears below:

Harvey Norman's radio ad for its Christmas family portraits special first aired on Sydney's Nova 969 station on Saturday with the question: "Do you want to give Santa a lap dance?"

The ads were pulled four hours after feminist author Melinda Tankard Reistwrote a series of tweets criticising the radio promotions.

"Go #HarveyNorman Go! to hell! #boycottHarveyNorman #collectiveshout," Ms Tankard Reist tweeted.

"Think it difficult to work 'Santa', 'lap dance' and 'family portrait' into a single ad jingle? Wasn't for #Harveynorman!"

A number of Ms Tankard Reist's 1329 followers responded, with many promising to boycott Harvey Norman on their Twitter accounts.

CbnGal said: "that's Harvey Norman off shopping list. Why do so many of our major retailers think this sort of advertising is okay?"

Within four hours Harvey Norman's head of social media, Gary Wheelhouse, had responded to her on the company's official Twitter account and contacted the advertising department which arranged for the ad to be taken off the air "effective immediately."

The ad has now been changed to remove the "lap dance" reference.