Survey Reveals Facebook as Most Dangerous Platform for Climate Activists

A recent comprehensive survey conducted by Global Witness has labeled Facebook as the most detrimental social media platform for climate activists, highlighting significant online abuse faced by individuals advocating for environmental protection. The survey, which involved over 200 land and environmental defenders across six continents, reveals alarming statistics regarding the pervasive online harassment and threats experienced by these activists.

Published on July 16, 2025, the findings underscore a troubling trend, with 92% of respondents reporting some form of online abuse or harassment linked to their activism. The data, gathered in partnership with the polling firm Survation, indicates a chilling effect on the climate movement, with 63% of defenders expressing concerns for their safety and 45% reporting a decrease in productivity due to the hostile online environment.

The impact of online harassment extends beyond the digital realm, with 75% of respondents indicating that they faced offline dangers as a direct consequence of the online abuse they encountered. One activist from the Congo Basin articulated the emotional toll, stating, "Online harassment has had a significant effect on us. It has discouraged us at times and made us feel unsafe. Our work feels very dangerous, and we have feared for our lives."

The survey results also identified Meta-owned platforms, specifically Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, as the primary mediums for abuse, with 82% of defenders reporting incidents on at least one of these platforms. Specifically, 62% of participants indicated they had experienced abuse on Facebook, while 37% reported similar experiences on X (formerly Twitter). The findings reveal that the sheer number of users on these platforms—Facebook alone boasts over 3 billion active monthly users—may contribute to the high incidence of abuse.

Defenders are increasingly vocal about the need for social media companies to enhance user safety. Alarmingly, only 12% of those who reported their experiences to the platforms expressed satisfaction with the responses they received. A defender from Denmark recounted their experience, stating, "They have said things like ‘if I were there, I would run you over with my car’ or ‘this is why I have a shotgun’. I reported these threats to Facebook, who said they would investigate, but nothing seems to have happened."

The survey also uncovered troubling themes surrounding the nature of the abuse, including gendered attacks and the criminalization of activists. Almost a quarter of the respondents reported being targeted due to their sex, while 35% indicated they had received offline threats of criminalization, with 30% having been arrested for their activist work. An activist from India emphasized, "Attackers use the online space as a means of defamation, and then use the offline space to physically threaten us. They’re trying to silence us."

Two-thirds of respondents attributed parts of the online abuse to flaws in social media business models, highlighting the polarizing nature of algorithms, insufficient moderation, and the presence of trolls. Ava Lee, Campaign Strategy Lead at Global Witness, stated, "The climate crisis is taking its toll on everyone on the front lines of the fight for justice. Social media companies are making it harder for people to engage in this essential work by allowing hate and harassment to push them away from the movement."

The report’s findings come ahead of Global Witness’s annual defenders report for 2025, set to be published in September, which will provide further insights into the dangers faced by land and environmental defenders worldwide. The previous report documented at least 196 defenders killed globally in 2023 while protecting their land and communities.

Global Witness is calling on social media platforms to prioritize user safety over profit, particularly as threats to climate activists escalate. The survey’s results underscore the urgent need for enhanced protections for marginalized voices in the ongoing struggle against climate change. By investing in stronger content moderation and safety measures, social media companies could significantly improve the environment for activists striving to advance the climate justice agenda.

This report represents the first of its kind focusing on the digital threats faced by land and environmental defenders, shedding light on the urgent need for accountability from major social media platforms.