The world is more connected than ever, but with that connection comes a rising tide of digital violence that targets women and girls every single day. This doesn’t mean that men do not suffer from digital violence, but women and girls have a higher tendency and are more vulnerable to digital violence, from online harassment to stalking, doxxing, non-consensual image sharing, cyberbullying, and digital manipulation. The internet has become another space where abuse thrives, often unchecked and unnoticed, and the truth of the matter is if the digital world is unsafe, then the real world is unsafe too.

What Exactly Is Digital Violence?

Digital violence is any act of harm carried out through technology. This includes:

1. Threats or intimidation

2. Non-consensual sharing of private information or images

3. Online exploitation

4. Harassment on social media platforms

5. Tracking or surveillance through devices and so on.

It might look “invisible,” but its impact is real. It can cause emotional trauma, reputational damage, fear, shame, isolation, and in some cases, physical danger.

Why are Women and Girls the most Vulnerable?

Women and girls face unique risks online because of existing inequalities offline. Harmful gender norms, social expectations, and lack of protective digital policies create a perfect storm for abuse. Young girls often experience cyberbullying before they even step into adulthood, while women face harassment simply for existing in public digital spaces. When these patterns go unchecked, digital violence becomes normalized, and that normalization spills into real-life relationships, workplaces, and communities.

Effect of Digital Abuse

1. Digital abuse doesn’t stay on the screen. Its consequences follow victims into their daily lives.

2. It cause mental health struggles like anxiety, fear, depression

3. It results in loss of opportunities

4. It causes social withdrawal

It also results to real-world safety threats and long-lasting emotional scars

Ending digital violence is not about limiting technology; it’s about shaping it into a place where dignity, safety, and respect are non-negotiable. Women and girls deserve digital spaces where they can learn, connect, express themselves, and thrive without fear.