Responding to Survivors
Providing trauma-informed care to survivors of online violence involves creating safe environments that recognise the profound psychological impact of harassment, stalking, and abuse in virtual spaces. With trauma-informed TFGBV care, it is important to: (1) Prioritise Survivor Safety; (2) Consider the Offline-Online Continuum; (3) Validate their Experience of Abuse; and (4) Let the Survivor Dictate the Response. These steps are further explained below.
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Ensure that the survivor is not in immediate risk of physical violence while assessing survivor needs. This can include assessing risk factors and creating safety plans.
It is also important to ensure psychological safety. TFGBV can include severe emotional consequences including risk of self-harm or suicide.
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Although TFGBV may begin online, it does not always remain online and vice versa. It is important to consider the continuum of online-offline harm, especially as digital technology is being increasingly used in cases of intimate partner violence. Digital abuse and real-world harm are deeply connected and stem from the same structural inequalities that give rise to violence.
Understanding the realities of TFGBV is important to providing effective and trauma-informed care.
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Believe the survivor and do not minimise online abuse as “just part of the internet” or “normal on social media”. You should validate that their fear and distress are real and that the violence is not their fault.
Many survivors are concerned about receiving apathetic or victim-blaming comments when they report. It is important to reiterate that what they experienced was a form of violence and deserves to be taken seriously.
Part of validating the experience includes focusing on what the perpetrator did, as opposed to the survivor’s action. Example: asking “what happened to you” as opposed to “what did you do”.
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Focus on the survivor’s stated needs rather than a rigid protocol. Let them decide what support is most important, and don't pressure them to report or involve police if they are not comfortable.
TFGBV survivors seek assistance with mental and psychological harm, legal support, and content take-down. As long as the survivor is safe, let them decide how to move forward.
For example, you can provide resources on digital security and legal options, but let the survivor decide if and when to pursue them.
Understanding Survivor Experiences & Barriers to Care
Burden on the Survivor
Reporting forms of TFGBV place the burden on the survivor where they are left to prove, document, and heal from the abuse they experience. Individual survivors are also often responsible for navigating the care and legal systems which can be slow and lack transparency.
Layered Experiences of Harm
Individuals from marginalised groups face compounded abuse where societal prejudice shifts further blame onto the victim. Caste, disability, socio-economic status, or women in the public eye experience disproportionate and targeted abuse.
Problematic Platform Response
Platform design and responses are reactive with insufficient investment in security settings. Many platforms do not employ enough moderators and automated reporting systems routinely fail to identify non-English slurs and targets. Moreover, structural downsizing within major tech firms has reduced platforms' ability to process responses to TFGBV.
Mismatched Priority
The current criminal justice system is geared towards financial crime. Gendered forms of cybercrime are not taken as seriously unless they involve a financial element or monetary loss. Inconsistent police responses make it harder for survivors to trust they will receive proper care.
Victim Blaming & Apathy
TFGBV survivors report victim-blaming comments and apathetic responses - particularly when involving police or state actors. Outside formal systems, families and communities may blame the survivor for being active online, using digital spaces, or sharing an intimate photograph.
Slow Takedown Process and Reposts
While the central government has mandated short legal windows to remove illegal content, platform-level barriers may leave content online. Longer takedown periods can increase circulation, particularly in spaces where takedowns are ineffective, such as private groups on WhatsApp or Telegram.