When the film TORN was written, it stemmed from a personal experience with online harassment, as well as the need to show the harm done through cyberbullying. At first, the angle was bringing attention to online harassment of public health authorities, scientists, and journalists through a psychological thriller story. But soon after developing the film’s narrative, it became apparent that the film had more purpose.
Shocking statistics about the growing problem
In fact, online harassment of women and its gender-based violence (GBV) is a massive and growing problem. At least 85 percent of women globally have had experience with online violence in one of several ways:
38 percent of women have had personal experiences with online violence*
65 percent of women have known other women who had been targeted online, from their personal and professional networks*
85 percent of women have witnessed online violence against other women (including from outside their networks)*
The abuse is often coordinated, mob like, to silence women and drive them out of spaces both online and offline**
Online abuse is used as an attempt to weaken society** (and has a tremendous effect on dampening democracy)
After speaking with representatives from the UN, the most shocking thing about all these statistics that the biggest problem is getting online GBV to be seen as a problem! Far too often, online GBV is dismissed or not understood.
Helping to solve the biggest problem
Through TORN, we aim to help solve the biggest problem by expanding awareness of the scope and damage of GBV to millions of women and men. The film uses the power of story to motivate you to want to know more.
Consider this: Stanford University’s Democracy Challenge recently pointed to using a story’s ability to convey fear and empathy as a significant way to motivate people toward a more civil and democratic society.
This is the approach that TORN uses. TORN instills fear, demonstrates the need to be heard, and gives us a window into compelling truths. It is through the audience’s newfound empathy and wanting to be protected that the film provides a catalyst for change. And we don’t discriminate: this film is for men too.
Please consider helping us to bring this project to fruition so we can make a difference in solving this biggest problem of awareness of online harassment.