I definitely think part of The Verge’s commentary is sexism. This idea that tech is for men or that perhaps because the Fediverse is a little bit technical means women can’t do it. It’s like something from the 1920s. Not including the fact that women have been programmers since Ada Lovelace and beyond.
There are plenty of women on here who are definitely not technical and who get by just fine. Perhaps the robust moderation and blocking tools appeal to women who’ve gotten tired of an endless supply of dick pics and misogyny on other platforms, something that the techbro sausage fest that is electronic journalism can’t wrap their heads around.