2016 marked a pivotal year in the introduction of facial filters. Look at any selfie from this period, particularly from a certain few Kardashian sisters, and you’ll more than likely see Snapchat’s renowned dog filter. Somehow, we all collectively bypassed the obscenity that was dog ears, nose, and tongue in every selfie that we took because the dog filter blurred our skin and made our eyes ever so slightly larger. It was our first taste of filter enhancements, and we have only gotten hungrier.

Since the start of the year I’ve been working with The Young Women’s Movement on their ‘Young Women Lead – AI’ project. Together we have been learning about AI from The Scottish AI Alliance and deepening our understanding on the risks AI could pose for young women and girls.

In this article, Alba & Annie (participants of Young Women Lead AI) discuss the programme and the creation of their Guide to AI.

Mirin reflects on organising the first Menstrual Health Day at her school in the West of Scotland to raise awareness of periods and the different ways young people experience them.

Lauren looks at the 2025 Netflix series Adolescence from a feminist perspective, and discusses whether it could be used as teaching tool.

Our Research & Policy Lead, Dr Rebecca Mason, discusses young women’s online safety, and our response to Ofcom’s consultation.

The age of AI creates many new opportunities, but in the wrong hands it can create enormous damage and contribute to a new form of gender-based violence. One of the most horrifying and ignored consequences of AI is deepfake abuse, and women and girls are the group disproportionally affected by it. 

Across the world, young women’s human rights are facing unprecedented growing threats, from higher levels of discrimination to weaker legal protections, and less funding for programmes and organisations that support them. 

As the Scottish Government outlines its priorities for the coming year before the next Scottish Election in its Programme for Government, The Young Women’s Movement reflects on how the programme influences key issues affecting young women and girls.

Rebecca, our Research and Policy Lead, discusses the proposed Youth Work (Scotland) Bill, reflecting on what a legal right to youth work means for young women and girls across Scotland.

Tasnim Hassan, a Disabled researcher-activist, talks about the important connection between disability justice and feminist movements.

Rachael discusses the barriers that working class young women face when entering and progressing in the workplace.

Jenni discusses workplace gender inequality, and how our research with young women informs how we can improve their experiences and progression at work in Scotland.

Rebekah, from White Ribbon Scotland, discusses why men and boys need to part of the solution in eradicating violence against women and girls in Scotland.

Yasmine Morgan discusses how young women can experience both ageism and sexism in the workplace, and why we need to listen to young people’s voices.

Maya McCrae talks about how young women are more likely to be impacted by imposter syndrome, and her experience of this in the workplace.