Melbourne boys-only Facebook group shut down after posting explicit misogynist content
Dangerous Melbourne-based men’s clubs promoting “radicalised misogyny” are sprouting up on social media. One repulsive page has been pulled down but new disturbing sites full of revenge porn and degrading anti-women hatred have surfaced.
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After the removal of a vile misogynist group from Facebook last week, equally disgusting copycat sites posting revenge porn videos and rape jokes have emerged.
The disturbing Melbourne boys-only ‘Melb Guys Pal’ had almost 7000 members and has been slammed by women’s lobby organisations for its explicit content and vulgar posts degrading women.
But where it left off, other private groups with similar names have followed, with one group’s description saying: “For the boys. What happens in the group stays in the group.”
The Leader has been sent almost 50 screenshots of the graphic content including one man saying: “If this post gets 200 likes, I’ll post the video my ex’s sex tape.”
Another wrote: “Can someone drop this clip again, I didn’t get to see it.”
Other vile content posted on the page included: “Holocaust #2 but instead of Jews we target women” and “only fags defend women, real men rape em.”
In one post, the users even suggest “police can’t do anything” and “gal pals wanna get police involved, how about we spam nice things and make it seem like they’re making everything up.”
UNSW Associate Professor Dr Emma Jane, an expert in online bullying and misogyny, slammed it as a form of radicalised misogyny.
“In the past few years what has been occurring is a radicalisation of these views … it’s absolutely horrible but not surprising,” Dr Jane said.
“Unfortunately we’re seeing more of this behaviour play out in real world acts of violence.”
She said Facebook needed to ensure it monitored harmful and threatening posts.
“Historically Facebook has not had a good track record when it comes to moderating content. “They should take more responsibility and employ more moderators to look out for this harmful content.”
Caitlin Roper, campaign manager for women’s advocacy group Collective Shout, said the content was “horrendous” and “alarming”.
“It’s quite clear from the comments these young men are making show the real anti-women sentiment behind this,” Ms Roper said.
“We’re not talking enough about the role of misogynist pornography … this content is degrading and abusive towards women, it’s sexualises violence against women and promotes male dominance and female subordination.
“We can’t pretend that this is not having an impact on the way young men and boys view women and girls in real life.”
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A Facebook spokeswoman told Leader the company “absolutely did not allow” content that attempts to exploit, degrade or shame anyone, especially young people, and had removed the group for violating its community standards.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said if people felt personally harassed online it encouraged them to report it to police.