In an increasingly connected world, digital platforms have become essential spaces for expression, work, activism, and community building. Yet, for many African women, this promising space has turned into a hostile terrain, where they face an insidious but destructive form of violence: digital violence.
What is digital violence?
Digital violence refers to all intentional and abusive behaviors online aimed at harassing, intimidating, humiliating, or harming women because of their gender. It manifests as verbal attacks, threats of physical or sexual violence, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, or the publication of personal information. These actions are rooted in deeply entrenched patriarchal dynamics, amplified by the anonymity and global reach of digital tools.
For African women, this violence is not just an online issue. It has very real consequences, affecting their mental health, physical safety, reputation, and sometimes even their survival.
The most common forms of digital violence against women
- Cyberharassment and intimidation
Women who dare to speak publicly—whether they are activists, journalists, or ordinary users—are often targeted by waves of harassment. This phenomenon is especially visible on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. For instance, South African activists from the #AmINext movement received hundreds of hateful messages and rape threats after denouncing violence against women. - Non-consensual sharing of intimate images
Commonly referred to as “revenge porn,” this has become a tool for blackmail and control. In Nigeria, several influential women have had intimate videos hacked from their phones and circulated on social media. These acts aim to humiliate victims and destroy their careers or personal lives. - Doxing or exposure of personal information
Women journalists or activists sometimes find their addresses, phone numbers, or private information shared online. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a lawyer was a victim of this practice, leading to repeated threats against her and her family. - Identity theft
Some women face the creation of fake profiles that defame or harm their reputation. In Kenya, fake accounts were used to spread rumors against a female politician, undermining her credibility with voters. - Sexist hate speech
Online misogynistic comments go beyond insults; they are often accompanied by implicit or explicit threats of violence. African influencers, for example, regularly receive messages that downplay their work or reduce their worth to their physical appearance.
Devastating impacts on African women
The consequences of this violence go far beyond the digital realm. Many women choose to withdraw from platforms, reducing their visibility and professional opportunities. For others, harassment leads to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Certain forms of digital violence, such as doxing or blackmail through intimate images, also directly endanger women’s physical safety.
What can be done to tackle this scourge?
Digital violence is a complex problem that requires a multidimensional approach:
- Strengthening laws and their enforcement
Many African countries lack specific laws against digital violence. Governments must criminalize these behaviors and ensure effective prosecution. - Education and awareness
Women need better information about tools to protect themselves online, such as privacy settings and reporting mechanisms. At the same time, it is crucial to raise awareness among men and young people to change the sexist attitudes that fuel this violence. - Holding digital platforms accountable
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram must improve their reporting mechanisms and act quickly to remove abusive content. - Creating support systems
Women victims of digital violence need access to psychological, legal, and technical resources to deal with these attacks.
Together, for safer digital spaces
Digital platforms should be spaces of opportunity, not new arenas for reproducing gender-based violence and inequalities. By breaking the silence on digital violence and mobilizing governments, companies, and civil society, we can build an internet where every African woman feels free and safe.
It is time to act—not just to protect women, but to preserve freedom and equality across the continent. Because African women’s voices deserve to be heard, without fear or intimidation.