What Is happening?
Together, identify elements of the attack:
- Hacking
- Distorted images or videos
- False profiles
- Insults or verbal attack
- Defamation
- Harassment
- Threats
- Dissemination of intimate photos
- Extortion
- Censorship
Remind your friend that it is not her fault and she is not alone.
How can you help?
- Listen without judgment
- Screenshot and take notes about the attacks
- Help her decide what action to take
- Report the abuse
- Follow the attacker’s trail
- Create a support group for your friend
- Manage the targeted account for her
- Send public and/or private messages of support
Accompany your friend and confront online gender-based violence with small steps that help her feel safe again.
Keep a record of the attacks
- Take screenshots of the messages, images and profile information of the attacker. The evidence may disappear quickly!
- If your friend keeps you updated on what is happening, you can help by keeping a log.
- Keep your notes and images safe.
You can help record attacks, especially when they are public and there are many attackers involved
Accompany her

- To make sure you don’t lose touch with her, communicate through a safe or new account that is not under attack.
- If it makes her feel safer, your friend can share her geolocation with you to accompany her remotely while she is in transit.
Investigate!

- Search for your friend online and check what data, photos or videos are published about them. Is there anything they want to remove? Do they want to change their privacy settings.
- Search the internet for more information about the attacker/s.
Make sure not to leave a trail; log out of your accounts.
Respond together
- Create something! Write a blog or make a video about what is happening.
- If you are planning a campaign to make the attacks visible, increase your own security.
Take precautions because if you publicise the attacker, the social network could take action against you or you could be accused of defamation. Preserve evidence!
Explore together!
The answers to what she is facing could be in:
- Social networks
- Digital security measures
- A group response
- Drawing public attention to the violence
- Telling family or friends
- Reporting to authorities or platforms
Do you have other friends who have faced a similar situation? Check in with them!