THE DARK SIDE OF CONNECTIVITY: SOCIAL MEDIA AND GENDER-BASED HARASSMENT

The advent of social media has revolutionized human interaction, offering unprecedented opportunities for connection, expression, and information dissemination. However, this increased connectivity has a profound dark side: the pervasive issue of gender-based harassment. This paper explores the multifaceted phenomenon of gender-based harassment on social media, examining its diverse forms, the profound psychological and social impacts on victims, and the underlying factors that contribute to its prevalence. It further analyses current legal and policy responses, highlighting their effectiveness and limitations, before proposing comprehensive prevention and intervention strategies. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, this paper argues that addressing online gender-based harassment necessitates a multi-stakeholder approach involving individuals, communities, social media platforms, and governments to foster safer, more equitable digital spaces. Keywords: Social Media, Gender-Based Harassment, Online Violence, Cyberbullying, Cyberstalking, Deepfakes, Revenge Porn, Digital Literacy, Platform Accountability, Policy Responses.