How the Internet Changed Everyday Life

The internet is no longer “separate” from real life. It shapes how we communicate, learn, build relationships, and express identity. But it also mirrors society’s inequalities—especially when it comes to gender and power.

As digital communities grow, so do risks—particularly for adolescents and young adults still forming boundaries, confidence, and public identity.

What Is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)?

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is harm carried out—or intensified—using digital tools. It can cause psychological, social, reputational, political, or economic damage. In many cases, it escalates into offline harm.

Digital violence is not “less serious” because it happens online. Its impact can be long-term and deeply personal—affecting safety, education, employment, and the ability to participate in public life.

Common Forms of Gender-Based Violence in Digital Spaces

Online harm can take many forms. Some are visible (public comments), while others happen privately (DMs, impersonation, surveillance).

Examples you may recognise

• Cyberbullying and targeted harassment
• Cyberstalking and digital surveillance
• Threats, blackmail, and coercion
• Impersonation and fake profiles
• Doxing (sharing private information)
• Deepfakes and manipulated media
• Non-consensual image sharing (image-based abuse)

Who Is Most Affected by TFGBV?

Not everyone faces the same risk online. Evidence consistently shows that young women and girls are among the most targeted, with frequent exposure to harassment such as stalking and impersonation.

Risk can increase when gender intersects with other forms of marginalisation

• Women from racial and ethnic minorities
• Women with disabilities
• Women in economically marginalised communities
• LGBTQ+ persons

Women who are public-facing—journalists, activists, and creators—may face coordinated attacks that function as a tool of silencing.

Why “Log Off” Isn’t the Solution

Common advice includes restricting access, increasing surveillance, or telling women to “just leave” digital spaces. These approaches shift responsibility away from perpetrators and systems.

What we need instead: safer design, stronger accountability, better reporting systems, and digital education that builds confidence—not fear.

What to Do If You Face Online Harassment or Abuse

If you’re experiencing digital violence, the goal is to protect your safety, preserve evidence, and access support. Here are practical steps that often help:

1. Save evidence: screenshots, URLs, timestamps, chat exports, and profile links.
2. Secure accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, check login devices, review privacy settings.
3. Report on-platform: use in-app reporting tools (impersonation, harassment, threats, non-consensual media).
4. Block and limit reach: restrict DMs, limit comments, filter keywords, and tighten visibility.
5. Tell someone you trust: you don’t have to manage it alone.
6. Consider formal help: cyber cell support, legal guidance, or NGO support depending on the case.

Ladli Foundation’s Contribution

Ladli Foundation is a Delhi-based organisation known for grassroots, community-centred work on gender justice, education, and social inclusion.

The approach is preventive—working where norms are shaped early: schools, families, and communities. This is essential because digital behaviours often reflect offline attitudes and power dynamics.

What Ladli Foundation brings to the work

• Early intervention in schools and communities
• Awareness that addresses root culture behind harm
• Legal literacy and rights-based education
• Empowerment-focused support that builds agency

Legal Options (Overview)

TFGBV cases are often addressed through multiple legal pathways depending on the harm, age, and context. Commonly referenced frameworks include:

• IT Act (cyber offences): commonly used for impersonation, privacy violations, obscene content, and image-based abuse scenarios.
• POCSO Act: applicable when the victim is under 18.
• POSH Act: relevant when harassment is connected to the workplace (including digital workplace channels).
• Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS): may apply for threats, stalking, harassment, defamation, and related offences.

In some situations, remedies may also include legal notices or police-level deterrence, depending on severity, evidence, and risk assessment.

FAQ

What does TFGBV mean?

TFGBV stands for technology-facilitated gender-based violence—gendered harm carried out through digital tools, platforms, or online systems.

What are examples of online gender-based violence?

Cyberstalking, impersonation, doxing, threats, non-consensual image sharing, deepfakes, and targeted harassment are common examples.

Who is most at risk of TFGBV?

Young women and girls are often highly targeted, and risk can increase for LGBTQ+ persons, women with disabilities, and marginalised communities.

Is online harassment a “real” crime?

Many forms of online abuse have legal consequences, depending on the act, evidence, and jurisdiction. Documentation is key.

What should I do first if I’m being harassed online?

Save evidence, secure accounts, report on-platform, and seek support from trusted people or organisations—especially if threats are involved.

Closing Thought: Building a Culture of Digital Respect

Meaningful change requires more than individual caution. We need culture-level transformation—where platforms, communities, institutions, and systems share responsibility for safety and accountability.