New Report From Communia Finds Majority of Women Feel Unsafe Online

Study Reveals Prevalence of Online Abuse is Extreme and Rising, Especially Among Gen Z

As digital spaces grow increasingly volatile, a new U.S. survey from Communia, a healthy social networking app for women and non-binary people, reveals how unsafe—and unseen—many women still feel online.

According to the survey commissioned by Communia¹ of 2000 people in the U.S. who identify as women, including transgender women and non-binary individuals, roughly 46% report they have been a victim of online abuse and, even if they haven’t personally been victimized, 61% feel unsafe online due to concerns such as harassment, bullying, hate speech, cyber flashing, doxing, stalking, hacking, scams, and/or unsolicited explicit image sharing. When looking at Gen Z, these numbers jump to 70% and 73%, respectively.

The findings paint a picture of an online ecosystem where women’s freedom of expression, privacy, and well-being are increasingly under threat. Additional findings include:

• 75% of women (all ages) are actively reducing their social media usage due to safety and well-being concerns
• 50% feel they cannot be their authentic selves online
• 82% of Gen Z (75% across age groups) regularly feel lonely and 40% say social media makes them feel more lonely
• 42% believe women do not have the same freedom of expression as men online

“Platforms like Meta and X weren’t designed with women’s safety in mind,” said Olivia DeRamus, founder and CEO of Communia. “Our data confirms what millions of women already feel: mainstream social media isn't just emotionally unsafe, but also actively suppressing women’s freedom of speech in 2025. Our goal in publishing this report is to bring broader awareness to these issues and highlight how Communia is rewriting the social media playbook around emotional safety instead of an engagement at all costs model.”

Online harassment is on the rise and vulnerable groups (like minors, women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color) are often disproportionately affected. The data in this report not only supports this theory, but also includes some staggering stats on the younger population specifically (note: women of color and Gen Z had the highest percentages reported in almost every category in the report). The result is evident: Young women are leaving one of the only connective resources available and becoming more isolated rather than staying and continuing to be harmed. And, while isolation does not improve mental health, current social media platforms are not doing enough to protect women’s safety and in fact, in 2025 have gone so far as to roll back baseline trust and safety measures.

Launched in 2022, Communia is a community-powered social platform designed to make the digital world safer, kinder, and more meaningful, especially for women and gender-expansive people. At its core, Communia is reimagining what social media can be: a place that prioritizes connection over comparison, care over clicks, and well-being over engagement metrics. It’s a social network, a health tool, and a movement—built to shift the culture of the internet toward empathy, support, and authenticity.

To learn about Communia and view the full report please visit: https://www.ourcommunia.com/

About Communia

Communia is a social network designed to make the internet safer for women and marginalized genders. By centering emotional well-being and creating tools for healthier connection, Communia offers an alternative to mainstream social media’s toxic dynamics. Founded by Olivia DeRamus, Communia’s mission is to transform digital spaces into places that protect, empower, and uplift.

¹ The research was conducted by Censuswide, a global market research consultancy, among a sample of 2000 US women ages 16 - 55+ between October 31 - November 6, 2025.

Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251204620503/en/

"Our data confirms what millions of women already feel: mainstream social media isn't just emotionally unsafe, but also actively suppressing women’s freedom of speech in 2025." - Olivia DeRamus, Founder & CEO of Communia