The Internet is not just technology: it is a terrain of power and desire. Behind the apparent freedom of the web, the same hierarchies of the real world are reinforced. Algorithms learn from stereotypes, platforms monetize gender-based violence, sexism becomes entertainment. Between revenge porn and sexual deepfakes—and insinuating itself even into the most mainstream trends and aesthetics—patriarchy updates itself, disguises itself as a meme, and thrives within code. Silvia Semenzin will talk about all this while presenting her book Internet non è un posto per femmine (Einaudi), in conversation with Vera Gheno.

The book:

Who said technology is a man’s thing? In the beginning, it was women who wrote code and programmed computers. Then something went wrong. Or rather: someone decided that the internet should become technical and masculine. From that point on, exclusion, sexism, and discrimination only escalated.
Silvia Semenzin tells this story in a personal and engaging style that weaves together data, history, pop culture, and feminist theory. From her first experiences on social media to her work as a sociologist and activist, she guides us on a revealing journey into the darkest, most misogynistic side of the internet. She analyzes forms of digital gender-based violence, the role of algorithms in spreading stereotypes, and the emotional and political radicalization that increasingly takes place online, in an ecosystem where ultraconservative communities, anti-feminist influencers, and aesthetic models proliferate—models that, beneath a glossy veneer, reinforce and normalize gender inequality. The so-called “manosphere” is now a global phenomenon, fueled by political agendas and ever more sophisticated communication strategies. If we are not to leave new generations alone in the face of the internet’s abyss, we must develop a new awareness and a new capacity to imagine the future. Technology is never neutral: it must be understood, critiqued—and changed—before others decide for us.

The author:

Silvia Semenzin is a digital sociologist, researcher, and feminist activist. Her work focuses on technology, gender, and online violence from a critical and interdisciplinary perspective. In 2019, she contributed to the introduction of Italy’s first law against the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and she now collaborates with international institutions such as the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and the European Institute for Gender Equality, working on platform governance and digital rights. For Einaudi she published Internet non è un posto per femmine (2026).