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A number of Twitter users are joining in a 24 hour boycott of the platform today, organized around the hashtag #WomenBoycottTwitter<\/a>, to draw attention to online harassment on social media, including how women\u2019s voices are silenced by bullying and abuse.<\/p>\n If you can’t join #WomenBoycottTwitter<\/a> b\/c of your job or other reasons, consider using the day to amplify women’s voices. pic.twitter.com\/GvBmkVqvF8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) October 13, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n The boycott follows the temporary suspension <\/a>of actress Rose McGowan\u2019s Twitter account earlier this week after she had been tweeting about sexual violence against women, and specifically about the allegations coming out against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.<\/p>\n Twitter yesterday claimed<\/a> McGowan\u2019s suspension was the result of her disclosing a phone number in one of her tweets.<\/p>\n However critics<\/a> have pointed out that Twitter appears to apply its own policies selectively \u2014 including its policy of not disclosing information pertaining to individual accounts.<\/p>\n when will nuclear war violate your terms of service? https:\/\/t.co\/72FiiyoZ59<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 12, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Too bad twitter didn’t suspend @realDonaldTrump<\/a> when he tweeted Lindsay Graham’s phone number. Guess @rosemcgowan<\/a> deserved it though.<\/p>\n \u2014 Audrey Wauchope (@audreyalison) October 12, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n And many Twitter users continue to criticize the company for repeatedly failing to ban abusive users and for allowing its platform to be used to carry out targeted harassment.<\/p>\n The 24 hour boycott was apparently spontaneously organized by a San Francisco based software engineer called Kelly Ellis, after McGowan\u2019s account was suspended.<\/p>\n Individuals opting out doesn’t seem to make a dent. What if #WomenBoycottTwitter<\/a> for one day (along with men who stand with us?)<\/p>\n \u2014 Kelly Ellis (@justkelly_ok) October 12, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n It\u2019s not clear how many Twitter users are joining in the boycott today. It\u2019s not only women getting involved, though; some men have also said they are boycotting Twitter for 24 hours in solidarity with the cause.<\/p>\n Tomorrow I follow the Women. #WomenBoycottTwitter<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 13, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Although some women have specified they are not joining in because they prefer not to self-silence \u2014 saying they believe it\u2019s important to make women\u2019s voices heard by continuing to speak out.<\/p>\n Big ups to those participating in #WomenBoycottTwitter<\/a> but the foundation of my feminism is about NOT being silenced.<\/p>\n \u2014 Danielle Henderson (@knottyyarn) October 13, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Some women of color have also said they are not joining in \u2014 apparently to protest how certain feminist issues (affecting white woman) can demand support from all women, whereas other feminist issues (affecting women of color) are more likely to get overlooked.<\/p>\n There\u2019s another hashtag for this protest:\u00a0#WocAffirmation<\/a>.<\/p>\n I’m not doing #WomenBoycottTwitter<\/a>. I’ll be right here talking 2 WoC in my DM’s emails making sure they’re covered. #WocAffirmation<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 VzA (@ValerieComplex) October 13, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Asked for comment about the boycott, a Twitter spokesperson pointed to the\u00a0thread from the @TwitterSafety account\u00a0yesterday<\/a>, where the company set out its explanation for suspending McGowan\u2019s account.<\/p>\n The spokesperson also reiterated a portion of the statement from that thread, saying: \u201cTwitter is proud to empower and support the voices on our platform, especially those that speak truth to power. We stand with the brave women and men who use Twitter to share their stories, and will work hard every day to improve our processes to protect those voices.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s certainly true that Twitter\u2019s platform is used to amplify feminist voices \u2014 such as via the @EverydaySexism<\/a>\u00a0project\u2019s account which regularly retweets women\u2019s stories of sexism and harassment.<\/p>\n Equally, the company continues to provide a platform to misogynists, racists, neo-nazis and white supremacists \u2014 thereby enabling\u00a0the spread and amplification of hate speech. (Whereas in Germany it does offer a nazi filter to comply with local hate speech laws<\/a>. So the company is choosing to allow nazis to tweet elsewhere on account of prioritizing \u2018free speech\u2019 \u2014 to the detriment of individuals and groups who are singled out for hate speech.)<\/p>\n\n
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