Glitch

ABOUT US

Glitch is a young and ambitious not-for-profit organisation that exists to end online abuse. We want to see an increase in digital citizenship across all online users and to instil these beliefs: that our online community is as real as our offline one and that we should all be working together to make it a better place. Fix the glitch now for a safer web tomorrow.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word glitch as, “a small problem or fault that prevents something from being successful or working as well as it should.”  We think that sums up the state of the internet today; the glitches that allow online abuse to proliferate are preventing it from fulfilling its potential and we all have a part to play in fixing them. We believe that online abuse, in all its forms, is a vehicle to divide society and spread fear. When we look back on this period of time, we want to be able to say that the current surge was merely a ‘glitch’ in our history. That is why it is crucial that we work together to fix the glitch and eradicate online abuse.

The journey so far

Glitch was founded in 2017 by Seyi Akiwowo, after she faced horrendous online abuse when a video of her speech at the European Parliament went viral. Our organisation has garnered international acclaim and has an Independent Trustee Board of expert professionals and dedicated advisors.

Our achievements thus far:

• Over 2,000 young people in the UK and Europe have received our Digital Citizenship workshop
• Over 100 pledges to help #fixtheglitch
• Over 30 individuals in public life have received our bespoke Digital Resilience Training
• 3 submissions to All- Party Parliamentary Groups inquiries.
• We presented at 38th United Nations Human Rights Council on Online Violence Against Women
• Glitch’s work praised in UK Parliament

All of our work is upheld by three pillars: Awareness, Advocacy and Action.

AWARENESS
Through campaigning and provision of information and resources, we raise awareness of the scope of online abuse and its negative impact on individuals and society, and of how we can all help fix the glitch.

We do this in collaboration with partners to amplify our voices and increase our impact.

ADVOCACY
We advocate to social media companies on how to make their online platforms safer and to decision makers to ensure that rights are protected and access to justice is equal.

ACTION
We cannot afford for our generation, or the next, to become desensitised to online abuse. Nor can we allow women and girls to be driven out of and censored in our online space.

Our Digital Citizenship workshop is all about helping young people lead their best, most positive, responsible and engaging online lives. We deliver this to young people of all ages from primary school through to University.

Our Digital Resilience training is tailored to women in public life and public appointments, female candidates standing for elections and politically active women. We have one-to-one consultations, small group and large group bespoke training workshops.