Study: Online abuse bars at-risk youth from care

Online abuse and stigma are limiting vulnerable youth from accessing essential health information and care. [iStockphoto]

Ideally, the internet should be a safe space where anyone with access to a smartphone and connectivity can seek information about their health and well-being without fear. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.

New research by The Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (Kelin) reveals that young people living with HIV, young sex workers and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) individuals face significant challenges when seeking health information online, turning what should be a source of support into one of fear.

The study, dubbed “The Future of Human Rights in the Digital Age”, was conducted in Kenya, Colombia, Ghana and Vietnam. It revealed that technology-facilitated abuse affected more than 75 per cent of participants across all countries. Respondents described experiences including online stalking, blackmail, account takeovers, cyberbullying and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images — all of which were seen as severe violations of privacy, particularly for people living with or affected by HIV, sex workers and members of the LGBTQ community. Speaking during the release of the findings, James Kiilu, a member of the Kenya Community Advisory Team who participated in the research, emphasised the need to address stigma and promote safer digital spaces. He also called for reducing economic barriers to digital access, addressing educational and cultural challenges, and institutionalising meaningful youth participation. These recommendations were based on findings from four counties in Kenya where the study was conducted. 

“Instead of finding help, many are met with violence based on their sexuality, gender or even occupation. When individuals begin to self-censor, they inevitably withdraw from online spaces,” said Kiilu.

The study, conducted in Migori, Kitui, Mombasa and Nairobi, found that three out of four participants had either experienced or knew someone who had faced technology-facilitated abuse.

“Gender and sexuality shape how people experience online spaces, and unfortunately, those who are already vulnerable offline face even greater risks online,” said Kiilu.

Beyond direct harassment, structural factors further expose vulnerable users to risk. For many young women, limited access to personal devices forces them to share phones with family members or partners, increasing the likelihood of privacy violations and surveillance.

“In shared spaces, your privacy is no longer your own. People can easily discover your sexuality, your health concerns and even who you are communicating with. Abuse experienced on digital platforms is increasingly spilling into the real world, where harassment and stalking can escalate into physical violence,” Kiilu said.

As a result, many young people are choosing silence over risk, cutting themselves off from potentially life-saving sexual and reproductive health information.

Director of Health Financing at the Ministry of Health, Paul Malusi, acknowledged that discrimination within healthcare facilities remains a serious concern.

“We all have the right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination. Whether one can afford it or not, that right belongs to everyone,” Malusi said.

He added that vulnerable groups, including people living with disabilities, the poor and those with neglected diseases, are often left behind and forced to suffer without adequate support, rather than being prioritised within health systems.

The research calls for urgent action to create safer and more inclusive digital environments, ensuring that anyone seeking help online, whether related to health or well-being, can do so safely.

It urges governments and policymakers to strengthen and enforce data protection laws to address surveillance, biometric misuse and algorithmic profiling. It also recommends developing legal frameworks to recognise interpersonal digital surveillance and ensuring that public health communication tools, such as SMS alerts and digital platforms, are safe and secure.

Civil society and health organisations are encouraged to deliver digital literacy and privacy training, particularly for marginalised youth, while also raising awareness and advocating for comprehensive digital safety policies.

Technology providers and platforms are also called upon to take greater responsibility in protecting user data, establish rapid response systems to address digital abuse, ensure transparency in data use, and provide users with meaningful control over their digital footprint.