Ideas worth spreading

How we talk about sexual assault online

1,331,321 views |

Ione Wells |

TEDSummit

• June 2016

We need a more considered approach to using social media for social justice, says writer and activist Ione Wells. After she was the victim of an assault in London, Wells published a letter to her attacker in a student newspaper that went viral and sparked the #NotGuilty campaign against sexual violence and victim-blaming. In this moving talk, she describes how sharing her personal story gave hope to others and delivers a powerful message against the culture of online shaming.

We need a more considered approach to using social media for social justice, says writer and activist Ione Wells. After she was the victim of an assault in London, Wells published a letter to her attacker in a student newspaper that went viral and sparked the #NotGuilty campaign against sexual violence and victim-blaming. In this moving talk, she describes how sharing her personal story gave hope to others and delivers a powerful message against the culture of online shaming.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Ione Wells

Writer, activist

See speaker profile

University student Ione Wells is the founder of the international #NotGuilty campaign against sexual violence and misdirected victim blaming.

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The Everyday Sexism Project

Everyday Sexism is an international campaign set up by Laura Bates, where contributors submit everyday encounters of sexism. The #NotGuilty website was greatly inspired by the work of this campaign and its use of an online space to make survivors' voices heard. Also, see books Everyday Sexism and Girl Up by Laura Bates.

Caroline Criado-Perez | Portobello Books Ltd, 2015 | Book

Do It Like A Woman

Do It Like A Woman traces the lives and work of women around the world speaking out and taking risks to tackle injustice they have faced. It's written by the inspiring feminist writer and activist Caroline Criado-Perez. Criado-Perez has also written of her experiences of online trolling and abuse.

Ione Blythe Wells | 2016 | Article

"Please Do Not Feed the Trolls"

A blog post by Ione Wells investigating the negative ways in which some aspects of the internet, in this case, 4chan, can be used to foster online abuse and trolling. There is a focus on threads breeding misogyny and a culture that encourages rape and sexual assault.

Kirby Dick | Chain Camera Pictures, 2015 | Watch

The Hunting Ground

A documentary highlighting the prevalence of sexual assault on US campuses through the voices of survivors.

The Guardian | Explore

"The web we want"

A great campaign and series of articles and blogs that aims to raise awareness and tackle the problem of online abuse, particularly against women, created by The Guardian.

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The UN Secretary-General’s Campaign UNiTE

A global campaign set up by the UN to end violence against women around the world.

UN Women | Explore

Facts and Figures: Ending Violence against Women

Statistics produced by the UN that demonstrate how common sexual abuse and violence against women is around the world.

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Shared Stories from the #NotGuilty Campaign

A collection of shared stories and experiences by contributors to the #NotGuilty campaign.

Ione Wells | The Standard 2016 | Article

"#NotGuilty campaign: How Ione Wells' open letter sparked a global movement"

An article by Ione Wells for London's largest newspaper about the work of the #NotGuilty campaign since it started.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.