What To Do When You Get Harassed Online
- Beth Caldwell
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
As a client-attraction and visibility specialist, I work with women who want to be seen, heard, and valued for their work.
But I also hear the hesitation:
“Beth, what if I put myself out there and someone is unkind?”
“What if people judge me?”
“What if I attract the wrong kind of attention?”
And I get it. Truly, I do.
I’ve been on the receiving end of online hostility more than once, and it is unnerving.
Comments from strangers can be careless, cruel, condescending, or intentionally provocative.
Sometimes they sting.
Sometimes they shake you.
Sometimes they make you consider disappearing from the internet forever.
The wonderful thing about the internet is that it removes the old gatekeepers. Now, any woman with a message can step onto the global stage. The frightening thing is that it also gives unkind, unstable, or deeply unhappy people direct access to us. You no longer need a mailing address to reach someone—you just need WiFi and an opinion.
And as we step into our visibility, this is part of the landscape.
The good news is that the vast majority of people who see your posts are encouraged, inspired, helped, reminded, uplifted, and quietly grateful for your work. The haters are few and far between. But when online hostility does appear, we have a leadership opportunity. We get to demonstrate what it looks like to stay grounded, gracious, and in our power.
Because I want you to feel strong—not scared—here is what I recommend.
If you ever receive a hostile, hateful, or harassing comment and you feel unsafe or threatened, you never have to navigate fear alone. If someone threatens you, attempts to locate you, sends disturbing messages, or makes you feel physically unsafe:
• Do not engage.
• Do not reply.
• Document everything.
• Tell someone you trust.
• Report the account through the platform’s safety tools.
Because this is a global community and laws differ everywhere, here’s the safest universal guidance on who to contact if you feel afraid:
Contact your local police or law enforcement agency immediately if you feel physically unsafe.
If your country has an online safety commission, cybercrime unit, or digital harassment hotline, report it there as well.
In workplaces, notify your company’s HR or security department if relevant.
If the person is part of a known organization, you may also inform their corporate HR, ethics, or community relations team.
Most online hostility, however, comes in the form of condescending replies, patronizing advice, dismissive comments, or attempts to provoke you publicly. These aren’t dangerous—but they are disruptive.
Here’s how to protect your power.
Screenshot everything. Capture their name, photo, title, the comment, and the post. This is not for retaliation—it’s for documentation and protection.
Report patterns, not opinions. If someone is harassing, abusive, discriminatory, or acting inappropriately in a professional space, you can send the screenshots to their HR department, corporate communications team, or professional conduct division. Companies take online behavior seriously—especially when it damages reputation.
Close the loop publicly—briefly and professionally. A simple statement like:“Thanks for sharing your perspective. I’m closing this conversation now.”No drama. No reactivity. Just leadership.
Then disengage completely. No arguing. No defending. No explaining. No trying to win. Your silence is more powerful than any comeback.
Use the block button without apology.
Blocking is not a dramatic reaction—it’s a boundary.
When someone repeatedly behaves in a way that feels condescending, disrespectful, or disruptive, you have every right to remove their access to you. Your online space is an extension of your home. You do not need to invite everyone inside.
Here are a few things you should avoid doing:
Do not contact the person privately. This gives them access to your energy and opens the door to more boundary violations.
Do not try to educate them. You are not responsible for rehabilitating strangers on the internet.
Do not delete your post out of fear. That teaches your nervous system that visibility is unsafe. You deserve to take up space.
Do not let one rude human dictate your visibility. Their opinion is not bigger than your purpose.
A final word to the women who are ready to be seen: Visibility requires vulnerability. Leadership requires discernment. Being a woman online requires courage. But you don’t have to disappear. You don’t have to shrink. You don’t have to silence your voice.
Every time we respond with clarity and grace, we make the internet safer for the next woman—and the next generation. - Beth Caldwell
Beth Caldwell is a popular self-help author from the United States and the founder of Circle for Women Worldwide.
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