Online abuse has become one of the most pervasive digital harms of the modern era. From cyberbullying and coordinated harassment to image-based abuse, grooming, doxxing, and hate speech, the psychological and social impacts are profound. Victims commonly experience anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, reputational damage, and long-term erosion of trust in digital environments. As online platforms scale far beyond the capacity of human moderators, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a critical tool in detecting, interrupting, and ultimately preventing these behaviours.

In a hyper-connected world, your personal information has become a form of currency—highly valuable and increasingly vulnerable. Every search, click, download, or post contributes to your digital footprint, a permanent trail of data that can be used to inform, influence, or in some cases, exploit you. Understanding how to protect this footprint is not merely a technical concern; it is central to psychological wellbeing, resilience against online bullying, and safeguarding one’s identity.

Intimate images should always remain private. When they’re shared — or even threatened to be shared — without consent, the emotional and psychological harm can be overwhelming. This form of digital abuse, often called revenge porn or image-based abuse, is illegal in Australia and many countries worldwide.