Cybercriminals increasingly target people who are emotionally vulnerable, lonely, or struggling with unstable moods, because such individuals are more likely to seek validation and attention online. Youngsters, especially teenagers and women in the 16–26 age group, are at higher risk because they are still forming their identity and may depend heavily on digital interactions for self-worth. When someone lacks strong family support or a safe offline network, the virtual world can quickly become their primary space for comfort and connection, making them easier to manipulate.
Dr Naazneen Ladak’s perspective highlights that cyberbullying and online harassment do not start with obvious threats; they often begin with emotional grooming. Emotional grooming refers to the gradual process in which offenders gain a victim’s trust by offering attention, understanding, and affection before turning controlling and abusive. This pattern is especially dangerous for people who struggle to regulate their emotions, as their reactions are often impulsive and driven by immediate feelings rather than long-term consequences.
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How Cybercriminals Groom and Trap Victims
Cybercriminals often start by scanning social media and messaging platforms for signs of distress, such as sad posts, breakup messages, or hints of family conflict. They then approach with empathy, compliments, or promises of support, positioning themselves as the only person who “truly understands” the victim. This calculated kindness makes the victim feel special and seen, especially if they are not receiving similar care offline.
Once emotional dependence is formed, the interaction slowly shifts from supportive to controlling. Offenders may start demanding personal photos, intimate videos, or sensitive information under the guise of “trust” or “love.” When victims comply, cybercriminals use this material to blackmail them, threatening to leak content to family, friends, or social media unless they pay money, continue the relationship, or share more explicit content. This pattern, commonly seen in sextortion cases, can push victims into extreme fear, shame, and even suicidal thoughts.
The Psychological Cost of Cyberbullying
Research shows that victims of cyberbullying are at significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideation. Unlike traditional bullying, online harassment follows the victim everywhere—on their phone, laptop, and social apps—leaving them feeling as if there is no escape.
Continuous exposure to threats, insults, and blackmail can create a state of hypervigilance, where the victim is constantly on edge, anticipating the next attack.
Cases handled by Maharashtra Cyber and partner organisations show how serious this can become. In multiple incidents, young women facing online harassment and sextortion reached the point of attempting or planning suicide because they believed their reputation and future were destroyed. Many felt too ashamed to tell their families, which deepened their isolation and made them more dependent on the very offender who was abusing them. Timely intervention by counsellors, psychiatrists, and cyber officials has repeatedly prevented tragedies, proving that early help can literally save lives.
Why Young Women Are Especially Targeted
Data from cybercrime units and academic studies indicate that women, particularly in their teens and early twenties, are disproportionately targeted in online harassment and sextortion cases. Offenders exploit gendered social stigma, knowing that many women fear being blamed or judged if intimate content is leaked, which increases their leverage for blackmail. In conservative or close-knit communities, this fear of social disgrace can become stronger than the fear of the law, making victims more likely to comply with demands.
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Most victims in recent helpline reports come from smaller cities and towns, where access to specialised mental health care and cyber awareness may be limited. Many do not know how to file a cybercrime complaint or believe police will not take their case seriously, so they stay silent until they reach a breaking point.
Collaboration between cyber cells and NGOs, such as helplines staffed with counsellors and supported by law enforcement, shows an effective model for reaching these women, counselling them, and initiating legal action against offenders.
Recognising Red Flags and Getting Help
Recognising early warning signs can prevent emotional grooming from escalating into full-blown cyberbullying or sextortion. Red flags include: someone insisting on secrecy about the relationship, pressuring for intimate photos or videos, reacting with anger or guilt-trips if you say no, or threatening self-harm or exposure if you try to step away. Any form of manipulation, sudden control over your social media use, or attempts to isolate you from friends and family online should be treated as a serious danger sign.
Mental health professionals like psychiatrists and psychologists play a crucial role when someone is trapped in such a situation. They can help victims manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive reactions, and rebuild self-esteem that has been damaged by abuse.
At the same time, victims or their families should promptly contact cybercrime helplines or local police units to report extortion, threats, or circulation of private content, as these are criminal offences. If the victim is a minor, doctors and counsellors also have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the matter is reported so that the offender cannot target other children.
Practical Safety Steps for Users
A few practical habits can lower the risk of falling into such traps, even if they cannot eliminate it completely. Users should limit how much personal information they share publicly, avoid sending intimate content online, and verify the identity of anyone who tries to build an intense relationship very quickly. Using strong privacy settings, enabling two-factor authentication, and keeping evidence such as screenshots and chat logs can also help if a situation turns abusive and needs to be reported.
Equally important is building emotional resilience and support systems offline. Families, schools, and workplaces need to create environments where young people, especially young women, can talk openly about online experiences without fear of blame or moral judgement. When victims know they will be believed, supported, and guided towards professional help and legal remedies, cybercriminals lose much of the power they gain from secrecy, shame, and emotional instability.
Read The Full Article Here: Maharashtra Cyber saves 62 young women from suicide linked to online harassment
