Platform Accountability & Countering Hate Speech

Welcome to the Third Edition of Digital 50.50 in 2025

Today, on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, we mark the occasion by releasing the third edition of Digital 50.50, focused on platform accountability and the urgent need to counter hate speech online.

The idea for this edition was conceived in early May, following a sharp escalation in India-Pakistan tensions that spilled into digital spaces. Social media platforms quickly turned into battlegrounds, where hate speech crossed borders and derogatory slurs became the norm. Since then, little has changed. As users, we continue to witness a disturbing rise in digital hate, which is unfiltered, unchecked, and often amplified.

During this time, we also saw the tragic murder of Sana Yousaf, a teenage TikToker whose only “offense” was existing and claiming a space in a male-dominated digital landscape. The aftermath of her death brought another wave of online hate, directed at her, her family, and others like her. We saw, once again, that social media platforms failed to act meaningfully. Instead of countering the hate, algorithms fueled its spread, rewarding engagement over ethics.

Sana’s death is a devastating reflection of where we stand. Pakistan continues to rank among the lowest on the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report, and perhaps it’s time we confront our harshest truths that hate is not only on the rise, but it’s also being monetized and deliberately spread.

This edition of Digital 50.50 is a response to that reality, an ode to the age of hate we’ve all endured in this short time, both across borders and within our own communities. It speaks to the experiences of those facing violence globally, including women, gender minorities, religious minorities, and countless others who are simply trying to survive.

As editors, contributors, and readers, we hope for change. We hope platforms finally acknowledge their role and commit to the transparency and accountability we’ve long demanded. And as an audience, we hope this edition encourages deeper reflection on the people most impacted by online hate and on our collective responsibility to demand better.

Today, and every day, we hope for a better internet and a better world.

With love,
Seerat Khan
Co-editors: Sara Imran, Maria Nazar, Ahsan Zahid, and Fariha Yasir
Illustrator: Emil Hasnain