That little knot in your stomach when the phone vibrates yet again, even though you didn’t reply to the first message, or the second, and it keeps coming anyway: we call it insistence, but when does it become digital harassment? The answer is simple: harassment begins where your “no”, or your silence, is not respected.
This capsule details the signs of this tipping point: it is repeated, and the accumulation of seemingly harmless messages creates pressure, it is no longer attention but a siege; it is intrusive, with messages at all hours across several channels, a form of digital stalking; it is sexual pressure, with requests for intimate photos or inappropriate comments about your body; and it is emotional blackmail, with phrases that aim to make you feel guilty to force a response.
You have no obligation to be polite to someone who doesn’t respect your space. Ignoring an insistent message is not rude, it is a protective measure: silence is a complete answer. If you feel invaded, stop justifying yourself, capture everything, block without warning, and report. Your peace of mind is worth more than his insistence.
