SHE Study reveals 4 in 10 experience online harms in Singapore; SHECARES Centre, which provides specialist support, holds open house

·       High online harms prevalence as with 2023 study, highlighting persistence of harms; both women and men are impacted but in different ways

·       Impact on survivors of both genders is severe with barriers to getting help, reinforcing need for specialised, holistic support beyond content removal as with SHECARES Centre

·       SHE calls for coordinated action and response that combines regulation, faster intervention, stronger survivor support, platform accountability, public education, and community-based services.

Singapore, 24 July 2026 – SHE (SG Her Empowerment) today released its 2026 Study on Online Harms in Singapore during the Open House for SHECARES, Singapore's specialist support centre for survivors of online harms, at its new home in Chip Bee Gardens.

The event was attended by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, and signifies the importance of community organisations such as SHECARES in providing more accessible, trauma-informed, and survivor-centred support services for the community as online harms remain prevalent based on the findings from the 2026 study.

The 2026 Study on Online Harms in Singapore, a follow-up to SHE’s 2023 research, highlights three urgent realities:

1.      The Impact is Severe and Public Perception of Safety Leaves Room for Improvement: Nearly 4 in 10 survivors reported at least 1 severe impact, including mental health challenges and financial loss, similar to the 2023 findings. Worryingly, only 4 in 10 Singaporeans feel safe online, with many avoiding online discussions for fear of being targeted.

2.      Survivors Are Unaware or Not Confident of Support Services: A significant gap exists between experiencing harm and receiving effective support. Awareness of non-legal support services was low, and among survivors who don’t report to platforms, 4 in 10 cite concerns about inaction or delays.

3.      Laws and Regulation Alone Are Not Enough: While 7 in 10 Singaporeans support measures like content removal directions, the data shows survivors require a broader range of assistance, including legal information and emotional support, to navigate their recovery. This calls for all stakeholders, especially those in the social sector providing support services, to step up to provide support for all online harms survivors.

“This data is a clear and urgent signal: online harms continue to be prevalent, it impacts both women and men, and they are not just ‘online’. They inflict real, lasting damage on people’s lives,” said Ms. Stefanie Yuen Thio, Chairperson of SHE. “While content removal is a start, there is more survivors need. SHECARES is a direct response to just that – a safe space where survivors are believed, guided, and not left to figure it out alone. We stand ready to walk alongside everyone who comes through our doors.”

Since 2023, SHECARES has supported over 600 clients, providing over 6,600 hours of free counselling and legal guidance. The centre at Chip Bee Gardens will deepen access to these essential services, reinforcing SHE’s commitment to ensuring no survivor has to navigate the aftermath of online harms alone.

The public is invited to the SHECARES Open House on Saturday, 25 July, to learn more about creating a safer digital Singapore.

 Survey findings

1.      Online Harms Remain Prevalent

The 2026 study finds that online harms remain a significant issue affecting Singaporeans across all demographics. While new legal developments such as the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act are welcomed, the findings suggest that survivors continue to face barriers in seeking help, accessing support, and obtaining timely redress.

·       4 in 10 respondents personally experienced at least one online harm in their lifetime, a rate largely unchanged from SHE's 2023 study.

·       1 in 4 respondents personally experienced at least one online harm in the past 12 months.

·       6 per cent of respondents encountered inauthentic deepfakes, including both sexual and non-sexual deepfakes.

·       Survivors of intimate image abuse (IIA) and statements affecting reputation experienced such harms more frequently.

2.      Significant Impact on Survivors and Online Participation

The study found that online harms continue to have serious and lasting consequences for survivors.

·       Nearly 4 in 10 survivors experienced at least one severe impact, including mental health challenges, physical health effects, and financial losses.

·       Only 4 in 10 respondents agreed that they felt safe online.

·       Compared to previous years, more Singaporeans reported avoiding discussions due to concerns about online harms.

These findings suggest that online harms are not merely isolated incidents but reflect wider patterns in how Singaporeans engage with digital spaces and public discourse; with implications for who feels able to participate freely and without fear.

3.      Challenges in Help-Seeking Remain

While most survivors sought assistance, significant gaps remain across the help-seeking ecosystem.

·       Only 6 in 10 survivors reported their experiences through at least one channel.

·       Among those who did not report to platforms, 4 in 10 survivors cited concerns about platform inaction or delays.

·       Among those who did not report harms to platforms or pursue legal action, 3 in 10 survivors believed the harm was not serious enough.

The study also found that awareness of non-legal sources of support remains particularly low. Survivors were generally more familiar with legal avenues and law enforcement channels than community-based support services.

Reporting satisfaction across the ecosystem was modest, although many respondents were neutral and base sizes differed across channels. Satisfaction rates ranged from approximately 2 in 10 survivors for platforms and police reports to 3 in 10 survivors for administrators and legal proceedings.[1]

The findings point to opportunities for greater collaboration across platforms, regulators, law enforcement agencies and community organisations to improve survivor reporting experiences and outcomes.

4.      Women and Men Experience Online Harms Differently

The study found that online harms affect everyone, though experiences differed by gender. Overall, men were more likely to indicate that they personally experienced an online harm.

The type of harms faced by both genders differed as well. For example, among youth (15-34 years):

·       Female youth were more likely to experience online sexual harassment compared to male youths, consistent with findings from 2023.

·       Male youth were more likely to encounter cancel campaigns and inauthentic intimate image abuse, reflecting the nature of harms experienced by male clients at SHECARES.

·       Rates of other harms such as cyberbullying, were broadly similar between female and male youth respondents.

Importantly, the study found that women were less likely to report online harms, less aware of available support channels, and less likely to feel safe online. These findings, alongside SHE's ongoing research on gender norms, reiterate that violence and harm against women and men alike, online or offline, should never be normalised.

These findings suggest the need to improve access to justice, support services, and information for women while ensuring services remain inclusive and responsive to all survivors.

5.      Online Safety Commission Arrives at a Critical Time

The study found strong public support for measures that enable faster responses to online harms.

·       7 in 10 respondents said that directions requiring the removal of harmful content would be useful to them or to survivors of online harms.

·       6 in 10 respondents viewed online administrators and moderators as mostly or completely responsible for addressing online harms, on par with platforms.

The introduction of the Online Safety Commission (OSC) is therefore a timely and important development. SHECARES is a trusted community partner of the OSC, helping with the reporting of harms and providing holistic support to survivors.

6.      laws and Regulation Alone are Not Enough, SHE Calls for Whole-of-Ecosystem Action & Response

Despite support for stronger laws and regulations, respondents indicated that survivors require a broader range of support to complement content removal.

Among survivors:

·       4 in 10 said support in reporting harms to platforms or administrators would be helpful.

·       Legal information was among the most valued forms of assistance. SHE’s partnership with                                 Pro Bono SG has been invaluable in helping clients make informed decisions.

·       3 in 10 indicated that emotional support would be beneficial.

The findings underscore that addressing online harms requires an ecosystem of holistic support. While a strong online safety framework is essential, it must be complemented by survivor-centred support, public education, platform accountability, community partnerships, and accessible support services. The 2026 study highlights the need to improve awareness of both legal and non-legal avenues for help, strengthen digital literacy, and foster a culture where survivors feel safe to come forward. Alongside supporting survivors, prevention through education and early intervention remains critical to building a safer digital environment.

SHECARES OPEN HOUSE

The SHECARES Open House reflects this commitment by bringing together survivors' stories, educational exhibits, interactive experiences, youth-led initiatives, and industry partners to encourage meaningful conversations about online safety and demonstrate that support is available. Together, these efforts seek to build a more informed, compassionate and coordinated ecosystem where everyone has a role to play in creating a safer digital Singapore.

The SHECARES Centre Open House on Saturday 25 July invites the public to experience a series of interactive exhibits and activities designed to deepen understanding of online harms and encourage conversations around survivor support.

A key feature of the Open House is an exhibition titled “This is Not “Just Online”, which offers an intimate look into the lived experiences of survivors of online harms, helping visitors better understand the emotional, psychological and practical challenges they face. Visitors can also attend short film screenings exploring the realities of online harms and participate in immersive activities that encourage meaningful reflection and dialogue. Another highlight is The Speak Up Booth, where guests are invited to record short video messages with words of courage for someone facing online harms who needs to hear it. Through messages of hope, encouragement and solidarity, the installation aims to create a collective expression of support for survivors of online harms.

Adding a youth perspective, students from Peicai Secondary School will showcase student-created artefacts on online harms, screen original in-house videos, and host a public pledge board where visitors can demonstrate their commitment to fostering a safer, kinder, and more respectful online environment.

Technology platform partners Google and Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) are also participating in the Open House, showcasing the measures and programmes they have introduced to help users stay safe online and respond to online harms. Their participation underscores SHE's commitment to strengthening collaboration across the technology sector to build a more coordinated, survivor-centred support ecosystem. Through closer partnerships with platforms, SHE aims to improve public awareness of reporting channels, facilitate access to support, and ensure survivors receive more seamless assistance from the point of reporting through to recovery.

Beyond the educational exhibits, visitors can also enjoy a range of family-friendly activities throughout the Open House. As part of SHECARES' collaboration with neighbouring businesses in Holland Village, visitors can collect a special stamp card and complete it by exploring the various exhibition booths. Those who complete the trail can redeem a complimentary scoop of ice cream from Birds of Paradise, while the stamp card can also be presented at Tiong Bahru Bakery to enjoy a special small Yay Set offer. Guests can also look forward to balloons and an interactive board game that sparks conversations about recognising and responding to online harms in an engaging way. Throughout the event, visitors will have the opportunity to meet the SHECARES team and learn more about the centre's trauma-informed counselling, legal assistance and case management services, providing a welcoming introduction to the support available for anyone affected by online harms.

[1] Base numbers regarding reporting behaviour vary for platforms (n = 153), police (n = 68), administrators (n = 124) and legal proceedings (n = 48). This difference in numbers arise based on respondents who answered that they had reported their online harm to any of the following reporting channels, in a multiple answer question.