Survey finds sharp rise in online abuse of US women

Online harassment against women in the United States rose year on year, with more than a quarter of adult women reporting abuse, according to a new survey by privacy service Incogni and the National Organisation for Women.

The survey, based on responses from 10,000 adult women, found that 27% had experienced online abuse or harassment. That is a 17% increase from the previous year. This is the study's second year.

The results showed sharp differences between demographic groups. LGBTQ+ women reported the highest rate of online abuse at 55%. Non-white women reported abuse at a higher rate than white respondents, at 32% versus 24%.

The findings point to a growing safety issue linked to the availability of personal information online. The research examined how publicly accessible personal data connects to harassment, and measured attitudes toward legal protections and personal data removal.

Data exposure

The survey found that 79% of respondents believed publicly accessible personal data is used to target victims. Despite that awareness, only 17% said they had tried to remove their information online.

For a minority of respondents, personal data exposure was linked to offline consequences. The survey found that 7% had experienced harassment because their personal information was available online, while 4% reported physical abuse tied to it.

Safety concerns were also common among those who had experienced online harassment. Nearly half said they feared for their physical safety.

Who harasses

The study suggests perpetrators are often known to their targets. More than 40% of victims said someone they personally knew had harassed them at least once.

Social media platforms and messaging apps were the most frequent channels for online abuse. Cyberbullying and trolling were the most commonly reported forms of harassment.

Harassment connected to artificial intelligence remained relatively rare. The survey noted that victims may find it difficult to identify AI-related harassment when it occurs.

Legal gap

Only 14% of women said current laws adequately protect victims of online abuse. The finding points to low confidence in legal safeguards as respondents report rising harassment and growing concern about personal data exposure.

The research also indicated heightened vulnerability for younger women and those in public-facing professions. Women in journalism reported particularly high exposure, with 55% saying they had experienced online abuse. Nearly one in two Gen Z women also reported harassment.

"Online abuse is no longer confined to isolated incidents. It reflects a broader personal safety and privacy challenge fueled by the accessibility of personal data and the evolving digital environment," said Darius Belejevas, Head of Incogni. "Empowering individuals with greater control over their data is a critical step toward reducing exposure, preventing harassment, and improving overall online safety."

How it was done

The study used an online survey method known as Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing. Fieldwork ran from January 8 to January 16, 2026. Researchers applied quotas for age, ethnicity, and geographic location to ensure national representation.

The survey examined types of abuse, sources of harassment, platform dynamics, and links between personal data exposure and victimisation. It followed last year's study using the same approach, allowing the organisations to track changes over time.

Incogni operates a personal data removal service that targets data brokers and people search sites. The National Organisation for Women is a membership-based advocacy group focused on women's rights and equality. The two groups plan to continue tracking online abuse and the role of personal data exposure in future research.