Breaking Free from a Toxic Digital Landscape.
The Dangers of Social Media for Women’s Health, Wealth and Life. A topic We Can’t Afford to Ignore any more.
We are living in a time where women’s health content is routinely censored on social media platforms, leaving crucial conversations unheard. Educational materials about periods, reproductive health, and the female body are threatened, blocked, banned, or hidden by biased algorithms, reinforcing harmful stigmas and limiting access to vital information. This censorship not only restricts knowledge but also silences the voices of those trying to educate and empower. As mainstream social media becomes increasingly overwhelming and disconnected, the need for authentic, safe, and meaningful spaces for community engagement has never been more urgent.
Platforms like Communia, founded by Olivia DeRamus, and Diem, founded by Emma Bates, are leading the charge. These platforms priorities true engagement, creating spaces where women’s voices can be heard, their health, wealth, and lives can be discussed openly, and their stories can thrive. There’s no need to play the algorithm game —you can focus on delivering your message directly to your audience without worrying about being buried by the latest trends, sponsored ads or competing for attention. It’s about genuinely listening and creating environments where people feel valued and heard.
Why do Women-led and female-founded spaces and content face unique challenges on social media, encountering censorship, hostile comments, and algorithmic invisibility? As Kathrin Folkendt, Femtech Insider Founder & CEO, reports:
"As the founder of Femtech Insider, a women's health publication, I've grown used to a certain level of hostility. But what I'm seeing right now is different. There's been a surge of 'your body, my choice' comments flooding content across social platforms. And it honestly doesn't sit well with me... For those of us covering women's health and reproductive rights, these aren't just statistics - they're our daily reality."
Kathrin highlights a harsh reality: threats, censorship, and bias are the daily experience for those discussing women’s health, wealth and life. "Each innovation could change someone's life," she says, a powerful reminder of why we need spaces to share our stories. For creators and journalists, especially women, these barriers are daily struggles.
Women, particularly those from minority backgrounds, are often subject to targeted harassment, making it harder for them to share insights and resources safely. These hostile environments deter open discussions, isolating individuals and leaving health and wellness topics in the shadows instead of the spotlight, where they belong. As a result, entire communities miss out on life-changing information, and the stigma around women’s health, wealth and life remains unchallenged, perpetuating silence and misinformation.
The issue runs deeper than just algorithmic control—it’s rooted in structures that were never designed with women’s voices or perspectives in mind.
The Issue: Traditional Social Media
Facebook literally started as a dating app built by men, called Facemash labelling people hot or not —how could it ever evolve to truly uplift broader communities? Let’s be real: these foundations were flawed from the start. It’s time to wake up, ditch these broken systems, and build spaces designed for real connection and inclusion.
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok use algorithms that manipulate what we see, often distorting reality and reshaping our perception of what’s relevant or important. These algorithms aren't neutral—they show us content they think we want to see, often twisting narratives, reinforcing stereotypes, and amplifying voices that align with dominant power structures. For women and minority communities, this often means their voices are silenced, their stories are invisible, and their real-life experiences are dismissed.
Rather than fostering genuine conversations or amplifying underrepresented voices, these platforms push content that drives engagement—often sensational, divisive, or superficial—while burying authentic stories and important discussions. It’s not just an algorithmic bias; it’s a systemic failure to serve the needs of women, especially those working to educate and empower their communities.
Anna O’Sullivan, co-founder of CensHERship and founder of FutureFemHealth, puts it best in an interview with Femtech World: “The current rules are damaging and harmful. They prevent charities from sharing life-saving information about gynaecological cancers, block campaigners working to break the taboo of menopause and stop small businesses from sharing transformative health solutions. It’s simply unjust that they can’t reach the people who need this information.”
This is why many are moving away from traditional social media. Women-focused platforms are stepping up to fill the gap, offering safe, authentic spaces that truly reflect women’s needs and voices.
The Solution: Creating Our Own Spaces and Communities.
Instead of continuing to fight for a seat at the social media table, it's time to create our own tables—spaces designed by real people, for women, where we can share content without fear of censorship or algorithms dictating who gets to see our message. As one wise woman once said,
"Never beg for a seat when you can build your own table."
Why keep knocking on doors not designed for us when we can build homes that reflect our values? Here’s why creating our own spaces is the future. Here’s why:
Safety First: Communities prioritise safeguarding, ensuring all members can engage without fear or harassment.
Meaningful Connections: Niche communities foster deeper, authentic relationships compared to broad, algorithm-driven networks.
True Engagement: Platforms designed for the community encourage active participation, not passive scrolling.
Alignment with Values: Users gravitate towards spaces that reflect their values, where they can engage in meaningful, aligned conversations.
Ownership and Trust: People are moving towards platforms where trust and privacy are prioritised, and they have a say in how they engage.
But where can I build these spaces? You ask. I’m Not a tech Person.
Answer: On purpose-built community apps like Mighty Networks.
As Gina Bianchini, CEO of Mighty Networks, pointed out on The Kara Goldin Show, "Social media was built for people who already know each other—it wasn’t built for building meaningful communities of strangers on the internet." But Mighty Networks was. Gina's platform enables creators to customise their own communities, offering social lubrication and context that social media platforms simply can't replicate.
The Rise of Women-Led Communities: A Call to Action
We need to stop pouring our energy into platforms that don’t serve us. 20 years ago, Facebook was created. So what? It’s time to rethink new platforms and invest our time, money, and attention elsewhere.
Platforms like Diem (launched in 2020) and Peanut App (founded in 2017) are leading the charge in reshaping online spaces for women. These platforms were built by women to create spaces where women can connect, share, and learn about their health, wealth and life without algorithmic interference or fear of censorship and trolls. Investing in such platforms is not only smart; it’s an essential need for women to thrive and be heard now and in the future.
But this movement is bigger than any single platform. It’s also the micro-communities, the small fish making big waves, like MAMAMUSE, Chronic Boss Collective, Found and Flourish, Frida and She is Action, that are stepping up, providing invaluable resources and connections for women to thrive. The power of these platforms is undeniable—and they’re just getting started.
Imagine what we can build together in the next 20 years if we choose to invest in purpose-built spaces and apps that replace traditional social media.
What does this new era look like?
Focus on Education, Not Algorithms: Brands can share uncensored content directly with their community, ensuring vital information is never compromised or hidden from view.
Bypass Censorship: Community platforms designed for women eliminate the need to navigate the censorship and biases embedded in traditional social media platforms.
Long-term Investment: Instead of sinking your hard-earned money into mainstream platforms that reject or restrict your content, invest in building your own community.
Empower People Through Knowledge: When women have unrestricted access to information, they can take control of their health, wealth and well-being. Empowered women can then spread this knowledge to their communities, creating a ripple effect of awareness and support.
Support Inclusivity and Diversity: Building bespoke communities allows us to better reach minority groups and adapt content to different languages, making it accessible to all, not just those in the mainstream.
Championing Leadership and Allyship: Inspired by Kathrin Folkendt's commitment, women-led platforms foster leadership that champions women’s health and supports allyship across communities. As community owners, we need to prioritize leadership and allyship to protect our members—ensuring our spaces are safe and empowering. Kathrin’s dedication exemplifies the strength and necessity of creating environments where women can lead, innovate, and support each other without fear of censorship or harassment.
Let’s create spaces where we can thrive.
As we look to the future, the hard work of groups like CensHERship and leaders like Kathrin Folkendt and Ida Tin continues to redefine the digital landscape for women. Together, they’re shaping spaces that prioritize inclusivity, health, and empowerment—building communities where women can truly be seen, heard, and thrive.
Why wait for permission to speak when we can create spaces where we are heard? The time for fighting against patriarchal platforms is over. The future lies in building and supporting platforms that amplify everyone’s voices, stories, and experiences and not lead them astray into an abis.
Let’s support these women-founded platforms—let's invest in spaces where we can thrive.
Let’s build spaces where our voices aren’t drowned out by algorithms, silenced by biased censorship or threatened by unsolicited comments. The future of social media is not in chasing visibility on platforms that aren't built for us. It’s in building spaces that nurture our voices, respect our stories, and allow us to flourish.
Ready to build a community that’s truly inclusive and empowering?
Our Inclusive Community Design consulting services are tailored to help communities, programs, and businesses transform their spaces into environments where everyone feels heard, valued, and included. We specialise in creating authentic, supportive spaces that foster connection, promote inclusivity, and champion diversity. Let’s work together to build a community that reflects your values and ensures every voice is welcomed. Reach out today to learn how we can help you create a space where all individuals thrive.