58% of women face digital violence: How to stay safe online?

WISE NEWS PRESS / LONDON, UK — Dec. 5, 2025

The United Nations (UN) Women agency has reported that 58 percent of women and girls globally have been subjected to online violence, a phenomenon that is increasingly pushing women out of the digital space.

Identified as one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse, digital violence targets millions annually through methods such as trolling, stalking, deepfakes, and doxing (the malicious publication of private information). According to the International Telecommunication Union, there are 280 million more men online than women. Experts warn that digital violence is further widening this digital gender gap.

UN reports indicate that women and individuals who do not conform to traditional gender norms are targeted more frequently due to their gender, often suffering lasting psychological consequences. A study conducted in Europe revealed that women are 27 times more likely to be harassed online than men.

Common types of digital violence and risks

Experts categorize digital violence into five main types. Leading the list is "trolling." The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) divides trolls into two categories: those who target public figures to amplify harassment and those who derive pleasure from creating social chaos.

The second major threat, "Doxing," involves the malicious publication of private information, such as home addresses. Author J.K. Rowling fell victim to this in 2021 when her address was leaked online. Since 2022, Meta has banned the sharing of home addresses on its platforms to mitigate this risk.

"Deepfakes," which have surged with technological advancements, involve the use of AI to create non-consensual, often sexual, imagery of individuals. The UK criminalized the sharing of such content under the 2023 Online Safety Act. Additionally, "Grooming" (building trust to abuse children) and widespread cyberbullying can lead to severe outcomes for victims, ranging from anxiety disorders to suicidal ideation.

Prevention methods and expert advice

The UN and cybersecurity experts recommend the following steps to minimize the risk of online harassment:

• Limit sharing: Data shared online can be permanent; avoid posting sensitive information like addresses and phone numbers.

  
  

• Disable location services: Turn off automatic location tagging on social media accounts.

• Update privacy settings: Regularly check who can view your profile and actively use content filtering options.

• Use reporting mechanisms: Report suspicious or threatening accounts to the respective platforms immediately.

Through a campaign running until December 10, the UN is calling on governments to criminalize digital violence and urging tech giants to be more proactive in removing harmful content.

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