Finding safety in the mask: how platform anonymity and the COVID-19 pandemic affect domestic violence disclosures

Journal Article

2026

Published in: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2026.106508

Background: Domestic violence (DV) can result in serious consequences for victims. Social media has emerged as
an alternative venue for DV victims to share their experiences while seeking potential support, particularly during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite some studies exploring the characterization of DV disclosure on social media,
a systematic investigation of the dimensions of DV characteristics remains lacking. Moreover, empirical evidence
for DV disclosure on social media remains limited. In particular, the effects of platform anonymity and
the COVID-19 pandemic on DV disclosure are largely overlooked.
Methods: To address the literature gaps, this study examines DV dimensions, including depth, breadth, and
severity, through a detailed characterization of victimization disclosure in social media communities. More importantly,
it empirically investigates the effects of platform anonymity and the pandemic on DV disclosure by
analyzing data collected from different social media platforms, spanning both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic
declaration periods.
Results: Our results show that the effects of anonymity are consistently strong and statistically significant across
depth, breadth, and severity, whereas the effects of the pandemic on social media DV disclosures are less consistent
and should be interpreted more cautiously.
Conclusions: The findings not only deepen our understanding of the factors contributing to DV disclosure on social
media but also offer valuable guidance for designing platform features and developing effective online interventions
to address DV.

• Publication Work Type: Journal article
• Publisher Name: Elsevier / Elsevier B.V.
• Publishing City: Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland
• Volume Number: Volume 218
• Magazine \ Newspaper: International Journal of Medical Informatics