Logged Off and Left Behind: How Online Harassment Is Shaping Women’s Participation in Southeast Asia’s Digital Economy

Logged Off and Left Behind: How Online Harassment Is Shaping Women’s Participation in Southeast Asia's Digital Economy

Southeast Asia’s digital economy is often associated with rapid growth: rising internet penetration, expanding e-commerce, and a generation of women building businesses and brands online. Alongside this progress, however, women’s experiences in digital spaces suggest a more complex reality, one in which safety concerns shape how and whether they participate.

Milieu Insight's Women's Safety & Confidence Perception Study surveyed 3,000 women across Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore. The findings highlight the prevalence of online harassment and its potential implications for participation in digital and professional spaces.

The Scale of the Issue

Online harassment is widely reported across Southeast Asia. In Hanoi, 61% of women said they experienced some form of online harassment in the past 12 months, the highest rate in the study. Jakarta follows at 48%, Kuala Lumpur at 47%, Manila at 44%, and Bangkok at 43%. Singapore recorded the lowest rate, though 26%, roughly one in four women, still reported harassment online.

The forms this harassment takes extend beyond name-calling. Cyberstalking or persistent unwanted contact was reported by 22% of women in Hanoi, 19% in Manila, and 18% in Jakarta. Fake profiles were created about women at rates of 20% in Hanoi, 12% in Jakarta, and 10% in Bangkok. Non-consensual sharing of intimate images was reported by 15% of women in Hanoi and 9% each in Manila and Jakarta. In Jakarta, 11% of women reported being targeted by deepfake images or videos, double the rate recorded in Singapore.

These figures indicate that online harassment is not limited to isolated incidents but forms part of many women’s digital experiences across the region.

The Chilling Effect: When Harassment Leads to Self-Limiting Behaviour

One of the most consistent responses to online harassment is reduced online engagement. Across the region, many women report limiting their digital presence as a protective measure.

In Jakarta, 64% of women say they limit what they post or share online. In Manila, 63%; in Hanoi, 62%. Even in Singapore, 35% of women report reducing their online presence.

• 64% of women in Jakarta limit what they post online due to harassment concerns
• 42% of women in Hanoi report stepping back from public discussions

In Hanoi, 42% of women report no longer participating in public discussions, while in Jakarta, 24% say they have withdrawn from activism. As public discourse increasingly takes place online, these shifts may influence whose voices are represented.

Professional and Wellbeing Impacts

Beyond self-censorship, online harassment appears to influence professional engagement. In Hanoi, 24% of women report avoiding professional networking opportunities due to online harassment; in Jakarta, 20%; and in Kuala Lumpur, 15%.

These decisions may affect visibility, career progression, and access to professional opportunities, particularly in sectors where online presence plays a central role.

Women also report wellbeing impacts. In Manila, 36% say they experienced anxiety, depression, or sleep problems linked to online harassment. Jakarta follows at 31%, Hanoi at 30%, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur at 24%, and Singapore at 17%.

Up to 31% of women across the region say they are considering leaving social media entirely. For many professionals, social media functions as a tool for networking, visibility, and business development, suggesting that disengagement may have broader professional implications.

The data suggests that digital participation is closely linked to perceptions of safety. As online spaces continue to serve as gateways to economic and civic engagement, understanding these dynamics may become increasingly important.

The Bottom Line

Southeast Asia’s digital economy continues to expand, offering new pathways for entrepreneurship, employment, and public participation. At the same time, the study indicates that online harassment remains a significant factor shaping how women engage in digital spaces.

The findings do not suggest that women are opting out of digital participation entirely. Rather, they point to adaptive behaviours, limiting posts, avoiding visibility, or stepping back from certain activities, that may influence both individual opportunities and the broader digital landscape.

Understanding these patterns can help organisations, platforms, and policymakers better assess how safety, participation, and economic inclusion intersect in the region’s evolving digital economy.

This article draws on findings from Milieu Insight's Women's Safety & Confidence Perception Study, conducted in October - November 2025. The study surveyed 500 women in each of six Southeast Asian capital cities — Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore — totalling 3,000 respondents. For the full dataset, contact sales@mili.eu.

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