People often say: “It’s just the internet. Turn off your phone and you’ll feel better.” But if it were that simple, why does your heart beat so fast with every notification? Cyberharassment doesn’t stop at the pixels: it is violence that travels from the digital world into real life, turning into anxiety from the moment you wake up, into fear of meeting someone’s eyes in the street and wondering “does he know, has he seen?”.
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence steals much more than data: it steals confidence, pushes victims to isolate themselves, leave their friend groups, give up their plans, because public space, real or virtual, suddenly seems dangerous. If you are going through this, know that your emotions are legitimate and that you don’t have to carry this weight alone.
To start taking back power: turn off notifications to take back control of your time, talk about it in person with a friend, a relative or a professional (the shame must change sides, it is not yours), and document so you can act without having to relive everything day after day. Your mental health is worth more than any connection.
