A scoping review of technological tools for supporting victims of online sexual harassment

Abstract

Experiencing online sexual harassment (OSH) poses significant threats to individuals' well-being, necessitating effective intervention. Addressing OSH requires collaboration across policy, education, and technology, where technology can play a role in supporting victims. This paper conducted a scoping review to identify technological tools for supporting OSH victims, uncovering five tools documented in scientific literature. These tools were designed to help OSH victims get support, collect evidence, raise awareness, or develop coping skills. Components of these tools include emotional support, multimedia content, informational support, labelling, reporting, victim stories, and evidence collection. Four tools went through process evaluation using qualitative or mixed-method approaches. Results collectively showed that users appreciate emotional support, informational support, multimedia content, and labelling components, but are dissatisfied with the evidence collection component. One study assessed tool effects using a quasi-experimental with a two-group design, showing significant effects on changing users' knowledge, attitude, and coping behaviors. These findings inform user preferences, a crucial factor for supportive effects. However, four of the five studies lack effects evaluation. Future research should prioritize evaluating the effects of technological tools supporting victims of OSH. This is essential because implementing an ineffective tool can incur considerable costs and pose challenges in removal or modification.