The GIVRE research project was presented at the VII Conference of the Italian Scientific Society of Sociology, Culture and Communication (SISCC), held at the University of Cagliari on June 19–20, 2025. The contribution, entitled “Algorithmic Resistance as a Tool to Fight Gender-Based Violence Online and Offline”, presented by Mariacristina Sciannamblo, together with Valentina Fedele, Chiara Carbone, and Marco Scarcelli, explored the forms of digital gender-based violence in Italy and the strategies of resistance and counteraction developed by users.
The presentation analyzed online gender-based violence from a transfeminist perspective, showing how digital platforms, through their algorithmic and governance logics, can amplify and extend violent phenomena over time and across spaces—from sexist and homophobic hate speech to sexual harassment and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. At the same time, platforms can also become sites of resilience and empowerment, through algorithmic resistance, collective strategies of opposition, and embodied practices that connect online and offline dimensions.
The contribution presented preliminary findings from 50 qualitative interviews conducted in Italy. The analysis highlights users’ digital habits, generational differences in exposure to violence, and the main individual and collective practices of resistance.
In doing so, the work calls for a critical rethinking of technologies and socio-technical networks through a transfeminist lens, envisioning platforms that not only reduce the risks of violence but also foster more just and equitable digital spaces.
