Quiz

Explanation: This statement is both a stereotype (a generalisation about girls) and a gender norm. Gender norms are the common ideas in a society about how boys/girls are “supposed” to look, act, or think. They’re like unspoken rules about what’s considered “normal” for each gender at a certain time and place. People usually learn these rules when they’re young, and they can influence how we see ourselves and others. Because of this, gender norms often lead to stereotypes.

Source: UNICEF Glossary of Terms and Concepts.

Explanation: Toxic masculinity is when harmful expectations about being a “real man” encourage boys to hide emotions, act aggressively, or avoid asking for help. While masculinity itself isn’t bad, “toxic” versions harm both boys (by stopping them from expressing themselves) and others around them.

Source: Healthline

Explanation: Misogyny is more than a stereotype. It’s a strong dislike or hatred toward women. Saying women are only valuable for how they look is misogyny because it denies their intelligence, creativity, or contributions to society.

Source: Srivastava, K., Chaudhury, S., Bhat, P. S. & Sahu, S. (2017). Misogyny, feminism, and sexual harassment. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 26(2), pp. 111-113. 

Explanation: This scenario shows overlapping harms: threats based on gender because she is a girl (gender-based-violence), repeated humiliation from her classmates using digital technology (cyberbullying), and hateful language from the boy and the classmates (hate speech). Online harms often overlap, making the impact more damaging and harder to escape. The content also often stays online, making it a more lasting type of violence that is difficult to erase.

Explanation: Misinformation spreads false or misleading claims, often disguised as truth. Posts like this can be dangerous because they pretend to use “science” but provide no real evidence. Algorithms push this kind of content because it grabs attention, not necessarily because it’s accurate. In fact, researchers found that many nutrition posts on social media had some kind of false or misleading information, usually about “miracle diets”. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube were the main platforms where this misinformation spread, showing why it’s important to fact-check what you see online before believing it.

Source: López-García, M., Díaz-Silva, A., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Sánchez-Pato, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2023). Systematic review of nutrition misinformation in social networks. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 40(3), 601–608.

Explanation: Algorithms “learn” from patterns in clicks and views. If many men watch bulking videos, the algorithm assumes all boys want the same. This creates an algorithmic reflection that reinforces stereotypes instead of showing diverse choices.

Source: Sampaio Rodrigues, R. (2025). The Algorithmic Mirror: A Reflection on Gender Performances and Discourses in Social Media.

Explanation: Online grooming is when an adult manipulates or pressures a young person into sharing private or sexual content. Groomers often use threats or secrecy to trap their victims. Recognising it early is key to staying safe.

Source: Childline UK

Explanation: Ignoring sometimes helps but often hate escalates if it’s not addressed. Better strategies include blocking, reporting, saving evidence, and talking to someone you trust. Online safety is about recognising risk and knowing how to act.

Explanation: Jokes that rely on stereotypes reinforce harmful beliefs. By calling it out or sharing counterexamples, you help shift the conversation. Small actions like this can change what spreads online and what doesn’t.

Explanation: These are often scams that involve sextortion and sexual exploitation. Sextortion happens when someone threatens to share your private photos, videos, or personal details unless you send them more, give them money, or do what they say. Sexual exploitation means taking advantage of someone’s difficult situation for sexual purposes, like pressuring them to send sexual images in exchange for money, gifts, or promises of help. Everyone can be a victim. However, because many displaced youths feel stressed about supporting their families or may not have trusted adults around, they can be especially vulnerable. The most important thing to remember is that this is abuse, it’s never your fault, and there are ways to report it and get help.

Source: STOP THE TRAFFIK (2022) Online Safety for Ukrainian Youth

Explanation: Algorithms are not “evil” by themselves. They follow patterns. Every like, comment, and share shapes your feed. That means you can hack your algorithmic reflection: choose content that inspires, teaches, or empowers you, so the system works for you, not against you.