Digital violence

Digital attacks can cause virtually unbearable and enduring feelings of anxiety, guilt, shame and helplessness in the people affected.

In addition, a severe loss of trust and diminished self-confidence are often further consequences. Since most offenders act anonymously, many victims experience a strong feeling of powerlessness and helplessness, and think that they cannot do anything against this.

Time and again, those affected describe an abiding hope that the violence would stop on its own if they waited long enough. Usually though, this is not the case. Instead, the amount of time allowed to pass whilst victims hope for the offender to show some understanding, is used for further attacks.

Experiencing digital violence often goes hand-in-hand with experiencing psychological, physical or sexualised violence, and can thus result in psychological and psychosomatic problems for the victims.