Social Media Is Fueling Radicalized Digital Policing of Black Women, New Study Finds

A new academic study is shedding light on how social media platforms are becoming spaces where Black women are routinely monitored, judged, and pressured through unsolicited digital advice. The research, conducted by Vimbai Mutero, a lecturer in Humanities at Charles Darwin University, digs into how popular content creators—mostly influencers, podcasters, and online personalities—deliver commentary that effectively polices Black femininity in ways that reinforce sexist and racialized norms.

The study, titled “As a Woman…”: Policing Black Femininity Through Unsolicited Digital Advice, was published in the Journal of Femininities and focuses on content from YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. By examining videos with large view counts and heavy engagement, the research captures a picture of digital spaces where millions encounter narratives that shape how Black women view themselves and how they are perceived.

Below is a clear and thorough breakdown of the findings, along with additional context on digital policing, misogynoir, and the complex intersections of race and gender online.

What the Study Looked At

Mutero examined online videos produced by Black influencers and commentators—many of them men—who create content aimed at guiding or correcting Black women’s behavior. These videos often fall under categories like relationship advice, cultural commentary, or self-improvement. But the study explains that beneath those labels is a pattern of messaging that pressures Black women to conform to restrictive gender expectations.

The research used a thematic analysis approach to identify repeated ideas and patterns across the content. Three major themes emerged, each revealing different dimensions of how unsolicited digital advice can effectively police Black women’s autonomy and femininity.

The Three Themes of Digital Policing Identified in the Research

1. Positioning Gender Equality as a Threat to Black Cultural Values

One of the strongest findings in the study is the strategic use of racial and cultural identity to pressure Black women. Content creators frequently frame concepts like independence, gender equality, or personal autonomy as betrayals of Black community values.

This kind of messaging places Black women in what Mutero describes as a double bind: the idea that they must choose between their Blackness and their womanhood. According to the research, the advice often implies that choosing independence or rejecting traditional gender roles makes a woman less loyal to her culture.

In short, the advice disguises control as cultural preservation, making it even harder for women to challenge it without being accused of rejecting their identity.

2. Discouraging Independence and Shaming Single Black Women

Another major theme is the heavy discouragement of independence. Many videos claim that Black women who pursue education, career success, or financial freedom are doomed to become single, lonely, or undesirable.

The research notes that influencers often portray single or independent women as miserable, bitter, or socially rejected. Instead of celebrating ambition or achievement, these videos reframe them as liabilities that alienate romantic partners.

Mutero found that this theme received the highest volume of engagement, meaning these videos had the most views, likes, and supportive comments. This suggests two important points:

These beliefs are widely shared and not limited to fringe creators.
Social-media algorithms may be boosting these narratives, amplifying their reach.

This raises concerns about what kinds of social norms platforms are reinforcing—especially when those norms contribute to policing marginalized groups.

3. Glorifying Submission and Emotional Suppression

The third theme is the glorification of emotional restraint, endurance, and submission. According to the study, many videos position suffering, silence, and compliance as virtues for Black women.

This is particularly harmful because it reshapes the popular cultural idea of the “Strong Black Woman.” Traditionally interpreted as resilience and tenacity, the trope becomes twisted in these videos to mean a woman who puts up with mistreatment, hides her feelings, and minimizes her needs.

The research explains that this reframing punishes women for expressing autonomy or resisting oppressive behavior. Instead of being celebrated for strength, successful or independent Black women are often depicted as socially undesirable or deviant.

Why This Digital Policing Matters

Mutero emphasizes that these harmful messages don’t exist in isolation—they are occurring across massive social-media platforms, reaching millions of viewers daily. When repeated over and over, they help normalize coercion and emotional suppression.

This is particularly concerning because social media plays a crucial role in shaping identity, especially for younger audiences who rely on digital spaces for community and learning.

The phenomenon also contributes to what the study calls digital femmephobia—a pattern of punishing or criticizing women for femininity that doesn’t fit dominant expectations. For Black women, this is intensified by racialized assumptions and stereotypes.

In other words, it’s not just sexism and not just racism—it’s a combined, intersectional pressure known as misogynoir.

Not All Online Spaces Are Harmful

Even though the study highlights concerning trends, it also acknowledges that many creators actively resist these pressures. There are thriving online communities where Black women support each other, challenge harmful narratives, and share content rooted in empowerment, healing, and growth.

Mutero notes that the same algorithms that amplify harmful messages can also be used to build solidarity—especially through hashtag movements addressing gender-based violence, digital harassment, and misogynoir.

These pockets of resistance show that digital spaces are contested territories, where harmful norms and affirming counter-narratives coexist.

Understanding Digital Policing and Misogynoir Beyond This Study

To give more context, digital policing refers to the informal but powerful ways online communities regulate people’s appearance, behavior, or identity. For Black women, this policing often reflects deeply ingrained social stereotypes. Here are a few broader insights connected to the topic:

The Double Burden of Race and Gender

Black women experience unique forms of discrimination because they sit at the intersection of two marginalized identities. This means:

Racial stereotypes often shape expectations of femininity.
Gender stereotypes often shape expectations of racial identity.

Digital policing reinforces both at once, often in the form of seemingly harmless “advice.”

The Role of Algorithms

Platforms like TikTok and YouTube reward content that sparks emotional reactions or controversy. Unfortunately, that often includes content that:

shames women,
reinforces stereotypes,
or promotes restrictive gender roles.

The study’s findings that these videos attract high engagement raise questions about algorithmic responsibility and the broader digital environment Black women navigate.