Women in India who have participated in and posted about protests are reporting significant online harassment, including slut-shaming and personal attacks. These experiences highlight the fear many women face online, which can mirror or amplify the safety concerns they experience offline.
One young woman, in her mid-20s, described how she began sharing first-person accounts on Instagram after attending a protest on July 20. She also helped organize support for protesters. Almost immediately after she started sharing, she began receiving hateful messages. She reported being slut-shamed and attacked for questioning the prime minister's comments following the protest. The prime minister had previously stated he forgave those who had abused him and urged society not to punish them.
"I have lost count of the number of messages I have deleted and people I have blocked. But the comments keep coming," she told the BBC. As a content creator, she noted that she already felt constantly watched and that her words were scrutinized, primarily by men. While she believes that past algorithmic shifts have directed her content to a more female audience, shielding her from some abuse, the recent harassment occurred despite this.
Her mother stopped reading the comments on her posts some time ago, unable to bear what strangers were saying about her daughter. The young woman acknowledged her mother's fear, stating, "What parent wouldn't be frightened by that?"
Experiencing such online abuse is particularly resonant for women in India, where societal norms often instill a sense of caution regarding personal safety. "As a woman in India, you grow up with fear. You're told not to stay out late, to watch where you go, who you're with and how you'll get home. You learn early that your safety is something you must constantly think about," she explained. "When you have a voice online, that fear doesn't disappear. It just follows you there."