Cyberharassment of Women

Abstract

Today, the issue of cyberharassment is especially relevant as online social networks have become an essential part of daily life. Research has suggested that cyberharassment has a negative and distressing impact on victims, often causing the victim involved to change their own behavior (e.g., leave that environment or cease to use the Internet in general) in order to avoid further harmful experiences. Studies reveal gender differences in the experience and impact of cyberharassment that could result in unequal participation online and in a situation where women are unable to occupy a space online without fear of threat or harassment. Research suggests that cyberharassment, and specifically technology‐facilitated sexual violence and sexual harassment, is experienced more frequently by females than males and that these practices seem most commonly experienced by women in their late teens and early twenties.