There are hopes the Online Safety Bill will legally require platforms to enforce their terms and conditions, which generally bar such behaviour.
Social media giants could face huge fines for failing to combat misogynistic abuse of women and girls online.
Under the Online Safety Bill, which had its second reading in the Lords on Monday, the likes of Facebook and Twitter would be legally required to enforce their terms and conditions, which generally bar such behaviour.
If they do not they could see their services blocked by Ofcom, the online watchdog.
Last year ministers rejected call to make misogyny a hate crime, but there is now hope social media platforms will be forced to tackle the issue.
Campaigners say they would also like to see platforms made to provide users with an option to screen out misogyny.
According to Amnesty International, one in five UK women have experienced online abuse or harassment. It found that 27 per cent report that had included threats of sexual or physical assault.
Previously, the government controversially ditched initial measures which would protect social media users from ‘legal but harmful content’ amid fears it could undermine freedom of speech.
The move has resulted in the Bill being “severely weakened”, argued shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell. This has left “viral misogyny free to proliferate”, she told The Telegraph.
A draft code of practice for social media companies has been produced by campaign groups working to end misogynistic violence, including the NSPCC, 5Rights Foundation, Refuge, End Violence Against Women and the Carnegie Trust.
