Online Violence, Real Life Harm

In Canada, one in every three women and girls between the ages of 15 and 24 experiences digital violence (also known as technology-facilitated gender-based violence).

And the effects of this online abuse don’t end when someone logs off. Digital violence follows survivors into their offline experiences in a variety of ways.

• Mental Health Survivors feel psychological and emotional changes. They’re more likely to experience shame, depression, and anxiety. Many survivors come to fear participating online or worry about losing their dignity, social standing, or self-worth. Over time, these impacts can lower moods and self-esteem and increase a survivor’s risk of self-harm, stress-related illnesses, and even suicidal ideation.
• Economic Livelihood In some cases, digital violence can impact a survivor’s economic livelihood. When a perpetrator shares personal information, intimate images, or misinformation online, they can damage their target’s reputation, interfere with their job or education, or make it more difficult for them to find work.
• Personal Safety & Freedom Digital violence makes survivors feel unsafe wherever they go. It can limit a their ability to express themselves freely, participate in public life, build relationships, and fully engage in their community.

What about the consequences for perpetrators?

For perpetrators, on the other hand, digital violence may signal the beginning of a dangerous pattern that can lead to future aggression and antisocial behaviour. And, whether they are a youth or an adult, anyone actively engaging in digital violence could face serious penalties, including disciplinary action at school or work, civil lawsuits, and even criminal charges. In June 2026, the federal government passed Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, modernizing Canada’s Criminal Code to better address digital violence and hold perpetrators accountable. These legal amendments criminalize the creation and sharing of non-consensual sexual deepfakes, make threats to share intimate images an offence, and introduce new protections against coercive control that are expected to take effect in 2028.

These changes are an important step toward recognizing the realities of digital violence, strengthening protections for survivors, and holding perpetrators accountable.

By learning to recognize digital violence, we can better support survivors, challenge and prevent harmful behaviours, and create safer digital spaces.