We’re sharing a new, in-depth study conducted by SMEX exploring the evolving landscape of feminist digital activism in Lebanon—specifically the compounded challenges that feminist organizers face when navigating online spaces shaped by patriarchal repression, surveillance, and platform bias.
This research brings together personal experiences from nine feminist activists—individuals and organizations alike—through thematic analysis and critical feminist frameworks. It reveals how digital activism is constrained not only by local socio-political dynamics but also by opaque social media policies and gendered cyberviolence. From self-censorship and burnout to algorithmic invisibility and legal intimidation, these findings highlight the structural forces that silence feminist voices online.
At the same time, the study captures powerful forms of resistance—activists developing new strategies for collective care, solidarity, and visibility amidst deeply hostile online conditions.
Key findings indicate that activists encounter significant difficulties related to online visibility. These include oppressive socio-political dynamics and platform-specific policies that lead to outcomes such as self-censorship, where activists restrict their own speech to avoid safety related risks, and strategic invisibility, a calculated choice to remain less visible to navigate hostile environments. Activists face different forms of gendered cyberviolence, including hate speech, doxing, and threats to themselves and their families, driven by entrenched patriarchal norms and societal misogyny, exacerbated by the lack of comprehensive cybercrime legislation. Political groups use digital tactics to target and silence activists, while legal intimidation and the misuse of laws further constrain their freedom. Peer surveillance and internal policing amplify the scrutiny they endure. Activists supporting marginalized communities—such as LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, migrant workers, and those advocating for sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR)—are especially vulnerable, with online hostility frequently escalating to physical violence. Additionally, poor data protection and privacy frameworks leave activists exposed to hacking and surveillance.
These issues, compounded by inadequate platform moderation of gender-based hate speech, particularly in Arabic language and biased algorithms, often result in decreased online visibility and stifled freedom of expression.
Stifling legitimate expression and critical discourse on issues affecting women in the Arabic language get inadequately deleted on social media platforms while misogynist hateful content targeting women remains. Meta’s recent policy changes on Instagram and Threads, which algorithmically limit the reach of “political content,” including content related to social topics, can be viewed as deeply problematic for feminist expression, as the policy lacks a clear definition of what constitutes “political content” and transparency in how it is being applied.
Additionally, labor remains an often overlooked part of digital activism, as the reliance on opaque algorithmic rules to remain visible on social media imposes a significant burden on feminist activists. Hence, this need to continuously mass-produce content that aligns with ever-changing trends demands a considerable amount of time, knowledge, training, and resources, which not all activists possess. This has introduced algorithmic awareness as a new dimension of digital literacy for activists.
This is further compounded by the challenge of addressing the sensationalization of serious issues like sexual violence and femicide, along with the difficulties of presenting feminist issues—especially in the regional context—in a way that is both engaging and respectful of the content’s gravity.
Consequently, many activists either strategically withdraw or are forced out of online spaces, contributing to a broader phenomenon of “structural silencing,” where marginalized voices are excluded from digital discourse. Those facing multiple intersecting forms of discrimination in Lebanese society are particularly vulnerable to this silencing.
The decline in in-person interactions exacerbated by the financial toll on civil society actors since the economic crisis, the pandemic and subsequent events, along with the promotion of neoliberal values of individualism by social media platforms and their algorithms has intensified challenges for feminist activism. This has made it increasingly difficult to sustain community and solidarity online. As a result, activists are rethinking their approach to online solidarity, by focusing more on meaningful collaboration, sharing risks, and fostering ongoing discussions about the future of feminist activism in the country.
Feminist activists also endure significant psychological strain, burnout, and activism fatigue, driven by systemic oppression and exacerbated by their reliance on digital platforms that fail to safeguard their mental health. Additionally, the constant crises in Lebanon coupled with the increasing backlash against minorities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, and migrant workers—create chronic stress and anxiety for activists, many of whom advocate for these vulnerable communities. The intersection of these challenges creates a vicious cycle that drains activists’ energy, affects their ability to advocate, and pushes many to leave the country due to the lack of state protection.
While exploring the gap between online engagement and offline participation, the study highlights the issue of “slacktivism,” where minimal online actions create a false sense of contribution. Activists argue for a nuanced understanding of online versus offline activism, noting that digital actions are often part of a broader strategy to build momentum and should complement, rather than replace, on-ground efforts.
The research concludes with a set of recommendations for feminist activists, donors, digital rights organizations and social media platforms aimed at alleviating some of the challenges identified and paving the way forward for strengthening the digital feminist civic space within the country. Recommendations tackle local regulations, content moderation policies, digital security and literacy practices, and civil society organization activism.
This research calls for legislative reforms that safeguard activists against the threats they face, as well as a reevaluation of the role of digital platforms in feminist activism and emphasizes the need for these platforms to provide safer, more inclusive environments that support, rather than hinder, the efforts of activists. It also advocates for continued efforts to strengthen digital advocacy strategies that prioritize collaboration and strategic dialogues, community building, and digital safety awareness
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