Is Social Media Safe for Women? Glamour Study Examines Online Harassment

Social media can be a very antisocial place for women, according to a new survey in the January issue of Glamour.

The magazine’s survey of 1,000 women between the ages of 18 and 59 found that 57 percent of them have been on the receiving end of negative comments via social media.

Glamour added that despite anti-harassment and anti-bullying efforts by the major social networks, only 7 percent of respondents feel that the environment has improved over the past year, with 35 percent feeling that it has actually become worse.

Other findings by Glamour included:

• 25 percent have been called offensive names, such as “bitch” or “slut.”
• 10 percent have been stalked online.
• 19 percent said someone made unwanted sexual comments to them.
• 8 percent have received physical threats, such as, “You deserve to die.”
• 66 percent of women who have been bullied online said the attacker was a stranger.
• 52 percent said they were trolled by someone they knew.
• 49 percent were bullied by other women.
• 10 percent admitted to criticizing friends online.
• 19 percent admitted to posting harsh comments about celebrities.
• 34 percent said that in response to cyberbullying or the fear of it, “I censor myself, posting fewer comments or photos.”
• 19 percent said they feel more insecure in their daily lives.

Readers: What did you think of Glamour’s findings?

The image at the top of the post, courtesy of Glamour, was posted to Tumblr (complete with the negative comment) by artist Lindsay Bottos.