Log In, Get Abused: Indian Women’s Internet Life

By Parambrahma Tripathy 

You post a tweet. Maybe about politics. Maybe about a movie. Or even just your love for dosas. Within minutes, your phone blows up. Strangers flood your mentions with insults, threats, and words your grandma would slap you for. If you’re a woman in India, this isn’t just bad luck—it’s normal. Getting trolled is as easy as breathing. And being a woman? That makes you a top target.

The internet in India is huge—over 900 million users in 2024. More women are online now, especially in cities. A 2023 survey found 8 out of 10 urban Indian women use the internet. They shop, learn, and speak up online. But there’s a catch. The same survey said 83% of these women want better protection from online abuse.

Numbers don’t lie. In 2020, Amnesty International studied tweets sent to 95 women politicians during the 2019 elections. Out of 114,716 tweets, 13.8% were abusive or problematic. Women were attacked for their gender, religion, caste, even marital status. Compare this to the US and UK—only 7.1% of tweets to women politicians were abusive. India’s online space is meaner, and women pay the price.

Why Trolls Love Targeting Women

First, the internet lets cowards hide. Anyone with a phone and hate can attack without consequences. A 2019 report found over 75% of young women in South India faced cyber-violence—body-shaming, rape threats, you name it. Most don’t report it. They just "adjust" to survive online.

This isn’t just about tech. It’s about culture. In India, women who speak up challenge the system. A journalist gets death threats for her reporting. A student tweets about caste—boom, trolls attack. A 2023 article put it well: online trolling is just offline misogyny in disguise. Women are expected to stay quiet. If they dare speak, especially on "male" topics like politics or religion, trolls rush to shut them up.

Why Women Get the Worst Hate

India loves women as mothers and daughters—but only if they stay in those boxes. Step out, and the hate pours in. A 2022 study talked to 25 women Twitter influencers. They said trolling often includes sexual slurs, body-shaming, or character attacks—stuff men rarely face. One woman called it "sexual harassment by another name."

It gets worse for Muslim, Dalit, or marginalised women. Amnesty’s study found Muslim women politicians got 94% more religious slurs. Dalit and tribal women faced 59% more casteist abuse. The internet copies real-life India—where gender, caste, and religion make some women "easy targets."

The "Honour" Trap

In India, a woman’s "honour" is tied to her family. Trolls use this against them. A journalist wrote about a political prisoner—then faced sexual trolling. Her family didn’t fear for her safety. They feared for their "honour" and told her to quit journalism.

This pressure isn’t just outside. It’s inside women’s heads. Many avoid topics like feminism or politics to dodge backlash. A 2019 survey found 40% of Indian women fear being trolled. Younger women, more active online, worry the most.

And it’s not just words. Trolling can turn dangerous. Doxxing—leaking personal details—happens often. In 2018, Rana Ayyub’s address was shared online. The UN had to step in.

Why Trolls Get Away With It

Social media platforms move slow. Twitter’s abuse detection is weak in regional languages. Women go to the police—but many stations lack cybercrime units or women officers. The Women’s Ministry has a complaint email, but a 2018 report said it got fewer than 100 complaints in two years. Not because trolling is rare—but because women don’t know where to report.

Laws? Barely any. A Supreme Court lawyer said in 2018 India has no anti-trolling laws. Convictions are rare.

How Women Fight Back

Women aren’t just victims. They’re fighting. Some mute notifications. Some block trolls. Others clap back with facts. A journalist said she "slaps trolls with facts" and refuses to stay quiet.

But it’s exhausting. Amnesty’s 2017 survey found 59% of women changed how they use social media after abuse. A third avoid certain topics altogether.

The Bigger Picture

Trolling isn’t just hate—it’s a power move. It silences women. Pushes them out of public life. Tells them the internet, like the real world, isn’t theirs.

But here’s a thought—what if trolling means women are winning? Every tweet that triggers trolls proves women’s voices matter. They’re shaking the system that wants them silent.

Fixing this needs better laws. Better tech. But most of all, it needs a culture shift. Teach boys that women’s opinions aren’t threats. Teach families that a woman’s voice is strength, not shame.

Till then, every woman online is a warrior. Dodging hate just to be heard.

Next time you see a woman buried under trolls—don’t scroll past. Amplify her. In India, trolling is easy. Being a woman makes it unavoidable. But staying silent? That’s no longer an option.

(Parambrahma Tripathy is an author and Communication for Development professional with over 18 years of experience. He has worked with organizations like BBC Media Action, Landesa, The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, IPE Global, and Coceptual Media. He has been recognized with several awards, including the prestigious Laadli Media and Gender Sensitivity Award in 2022 and 2023, Best Lyricist of the Year in 2022, Dr. Radhanath Rath Fellowship for Journalism, Kalinga Literary Youth Award, Timepass Bestseller Award, Srujan India Youth Award, Utkal Sahitya Samaj Felicitation and Odia Yuva Stambha Samman(2023))

(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)