Online abuse against women is escalating

Online abuse against women is on the rise, with 27% of women saying they experienced harassment last year, four percentage points higher than in 2024. The second annual National Organization for Women-Incogni survey finds that online abuse is more prevalent with younger generations, members of the LBGTQ+ community, women of color and professionals in high-visibility or male-dominated fields. “Skepticism toward legal protections remains widespread,” the report notes, “with many women who experience abuse choosing not to report it — not because the harm is minor, but because they believe action will not help or may even make matters worse.”