Sexual Harassment and the Internet

Sexual harassment in various interpersonal environments, such as the workplace, intimate relationships, or educational settings, is recognized as an important social problem because of its high prevalence and adverse consequences in the short and long term. In recent years, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been increasingly used in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment on the Internet, or online sexual harassment, refers to any type of pressure through ICTs, such as, mobile phones, to obtain unwanted cooperation or sexual contact, such as sharing sexual information, sending images with sexual content, or doing something against the victim’s wishes. Sexual harassment can also involve humiliations, unwanted sexual comments, or attention online.

The study of phenomena, such as online sexual coercion, online child grooming, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking, which can also ...