Today, most of us use the internet every day – for work, communication, education, and leisure. Although technology brings with it many benefits, there are still serious risks that we face. One of these risks is digital violence – harassment that occurs online, but can lead to long-term consequences for our mental health.
YOU ARE NOT TOO SENSITIVE – this can be a criminal offense
We are increasingly seeing how some phenomena that we previously considered only “ugly comments” or “jokes” on the internet can be classified as specific criminal offenses, such as endangering security, unauthorized recording and publication, sexual harassment. We are not aware that many activities, such as online threats, sharing other people’s (most often explicit) photos without consent, and harassment of any kind, carry criminal liability.
This shows that digital violence is not just “online drama”, but something that can have serious consequences, both psychological and legal.
THE NEED FOR SUPPORT AND EDUCATION
The psychological effects of digital violence are great – feelings of shame, insecurity, and even anxiety and depression. What further complicates the situation is that many women and girls do not know that they have legal protection, nor who to turn to. That is why I believe that raising awareness is a key step and I see a significant role for Women4Cyber Montenegro in this.
Introducing basic legal literacy about our rights on the internet – both in educational institutions and workshops can help women feel safer and more empowered.
Cybersecurity is not only about protecting devices, but also protecting ourselves – emotionally and legally. Therefore, if you feel unsafe and threatened online, know that it is not unimportant. You have the right to seek protection and support, both from the system and from the community.
CYBER SECURITY AND MENTAL HEALTH PROTECTION – Psychological and legal aspects
Today, most of us use the internet every day – for work, communication, education, and also in our free time. Although technology brings many benefits, there are also serious risks to which we are increasingly exposed. One of these risks is digital violence – harassment that occurs online, but can lead to long-term consequences for our mental health.
YOU ARE NOT TOO SENSITIVE – This can be a criminal offense
We are increasingly beginning to realize that certain behaviors that we once considered “just mean comments” or “jokes” online can actually be classified as criminal offenses – such as compromising security, unauthorized recording and distribution, and sexual harassment. We are often unaware that many actions, such as online threats, sharing someone’s (often explicit) photos without consent, or any kind of harassment, carry legal consequences.
This shows that digital violence is not just “online drama” – it can have serious consequences, both psychological and legal.
THE NEED FOR SUPPORT – AND EDUCATION
The psychological effects of digital violence are significant – feelings of shame, insecurity, and even anxiety or depression. What makes the situation even more complicated is that many women and girls are not aware that they are legally protected or do not know who to turn to for help. That is why I believe that awareness is key, and this is where organizations like Women4Cyber Montenegro play an important role.
Introducing basic legal literacy about our rights online – in educational institutions and through workshops – can help women feel safer and more empowered.
Cybersecurity is not just about protecting our devices, it’s also about protecting ourselves – emotionally and legally. So if you feel unsafe or threatened online, know that it’s not trivial. You have the right to seek protection and support, both from the system and from your community.
