The growth of misogynistic content linked to disinformation messages was examined during a webinar organised on Tuesday, 12 May, by IBERIFIER and the Centre for the Professional Training of Journalists (CENJOR). The invited experts warned about the economic factors behind this type of content and the growing normalisation of hostile discourse towards women in digital spaces.
The session featured Joana Martins, lecturer at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, and Sofia Ferro Santos, lecturer at IADE – European University and ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, who analysed how misogynistic content has increasingly gained visibility across digital platforms.
According to Sofia Ferro Santos, economic factors play a central role in the spread of such content. The researcher explained that controversial and polarising messages tend to generate more clicks, views and interactions, increasing profitability for content creators and digital platforms.
Joana Martins highlighted the role of entertainment formats in trivialising these discourses. According to the researcher, the inclusion of misogynistic messages in entertainment programmes, humorous videos or viral content reduces audiences’ critical awareness and contributes to diminishing the perceived seriousness of the ideas being conveyed.
During the session, the speakers also stressed that online misogyny cannot be separated from the current climate of social and political polarisation.
The debate further addressed the need to strengthen media and digital literacy, as well as to improve digital regulation. The participants argued for the development of more effective regulatory strategies.
