Christian F. Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW, is a dynamic advocate and strategist who made history as President of the National Organization for Women (NOW) from August 2020 to August 2025. She is also the Founder and CEO of Equity Bound Solutions LLC, a consulting firm focusing on equitable and just solutions for corporations, nonprofits, and institutions. As NOW's second African American president and the youngest person of color to hold the position in over 50 years, Christian led the organization's intersectional mission against structural sexism and racism. Her thought leadership has earned her features in Forbes, The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, and MSNBC.
Article3 min read
Bullies, Trolls, and Nasty Comments: How to Protect Your Mental Health Online
- Christian F Nunes MBA MS LCSW
- Oct 1, 2025
- 3
The internet should be a safe space for everyone. Unfortunately, it has also become a space where harassment and privacy violations are all too common—especially for women. In fact, one in three women under 35 report experiencing sexual harassment online, highlighting how digital spaces often replicate—and amplify—the threats women face offline.
While the digital world offers many benefits, it has also created a new range of online threats that can threaten your mental health and safety. Understanding these dangers and knowing how to protect yourself is crucial.
Online Dangers: What to Watch Out For
Online abuse can manifest in various forms, each with the potential to cause harm. These include:
- Doxxing: the act of publishing someone’s private and personal details online, often with the intent to harm or harass them
- Cyberstalking: relentless messaging or following someone across platforms
- Trolling: online posts designed to provoke, upset, or harass others
- Non-consensual image sharing: the unauthorized sharing of intimate or personal photos and videos, often by current or former romantic partners
- Deepfake technology: using artificial intelligence to create manipulated images or videos that can place a woman’s face, voice, or body into compromising or explicit situations without her consent
How Virtual Interactions Affect Your Mental Health IRL
The psychological toll of online harassment is often minimized because the abuse happens in the digital realm. However, the emotional impact can be just as severe as in-person or physical abuse... sometimes even more. After all, words can indeed cut deeper at times.
Negative experiences online can lead to heightened anxiety, triggering fears like being constantly watched or judgment from others. Women who are targeted online may find themselves withdrawing from social interactions and having difficulty engaging in everyday activities.
The emotional scars left by online abuse may even result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Triggers from traumatic events can cause flashbacks or panic attacks long into the future.
What to Do If You’re Facing Harassment Online
- Adjust your privacy settings. Limit who can see your posts and personal information to only people you know and trust.
- Don’t interact with strangers. Avoid engaging with unsolicited messages from people you don’t know. Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it might be. Better to be cautious.
- Block and report. Don’t hesitate to block individuals who make you feel uncomfortable. Use reporting features to notify administrators of any harassment or abuse you experience.
- Report abuses immediately. If online harassment escalates to offline abuse or involves illegal activities like doxxing or sharing non-consensual images, it’s important to contact authorities right away. Keep detailed notes and take screenshots whenever possible to document the abuse.
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