The hottest Online Harassment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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How Epstein Warped the Entire Internet

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1970 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Online Harassment
  1. Jeffrey Epstein had a hand in shaping early internet culture and platforms, from fringe sites like 4chan and gaming communities to mainstream services like Facebook.
  2. Revealed documents tie him to major online movements and controversies — examples include Gamergate and MeToo — showing his influence reached both toxic corners and mainstream activism.
  3. Investigations connect his network and money to many modern internet phenomena, linking influencer battles, viral trends, and tech misuse (like creepy AI/AR examples) to how online communities developed.

People Will Sometimes Just Lie About You

Knowingless • 2836 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Online Harassment
  1. If you’re visible or controversial, people will sometimes confidently misrepresent or lie about you, and widespread hostility doesn’t automatically mean you’re at fault.
  2. Many damaging narratives are built from vague feelings, unnamed corroboration, and inferred intentions instead of clear, concrete facts, which makes false accusations feel convincing.
  3. Communities should hold a balance of healthy skepticism and compassion: investigate claims carefully and demand evidence, while also making it safe for real victims to come forward.

The Groyper Trap

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1477 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Online Harassment
  1. Online spaces can create pressure to conform to certain opinions or behaviors, sometimes through intimidation. This makes it hard for individuals to express their true thoughts freely.
  2. Social blackmail often occurs where people face consequences for not aligning with specific groups. This can push individuals to compromise their beliefs to fit in.
  3. It's important to recognize these tactics and stand firm in your own beliefs to maintain authenticity in conversations, even when faced with societal pressure.

The Online Right Doesn’t Want White Women to Get PhDs

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 445 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Online Harassment
  1. Parts of the online right openly harass white women who pursue advanced degrees, saying they should be having children instead of careers.
  2. When Juliet Turner posted about earning her PhD, she was attacked on X and called a race traitor and shamed for not having kids.
  3. These attacks come from a rising white supremacist mindset online that treats white women mainly as reproducers and has escalated alongside broader far‑right harassment of minorities.
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BIG OOF: Patreon is enabling an insane stalking campaign

Natalia Mitigates The Apocalypse • 353 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Online Harassment
  1. Stalking can happen to anyone, not just famous people, and tech companies like Patreon can inadvertently enable stalkers.
  2. Documenting and calling out instances of stalking and harassment can help raise awareness and hold tech companies accountable for their role.
  3. Coping strategies against online harassment include setting boundaries, exercising, practicing meditation, and using creativity to tell your story.

The Manhattan Institute Deleted This Article

Karlstack • 472 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Online Harassment
  1. A man named Oliver D. Smith has been targeting academics in the field of intelligence research, using online trolling and legal threats to disrupt their careers.
  2. The Manhattan Institute removed an article critical of Smith after he reached a private settlement with them, raising questions about his influence and tactics.
  3. Smith's actions have led to real harm for academics, including job losses, by promoting misinformation about their work on platforms like RationalWiki.

Why So Many People Told Me To Kill Myself This Weekend

Singal-Minded • 1644 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
📰 News Online Harassment
  1. The author received harsh and disturbing responses online, including calls to kill themselves, after tweeting about an issue they disagreed with.
  2. There was a situation where a podcast misinterpreted and misrepresented a doctor's recommendation regarding hormone treatment for a transgender individual, leading to a Twitter controversy.
  3. The author faced escalating online harassment and suicide-baiting from certain individuals and their followers, highlighting the toxic nature of social media interactions.

Harassment against scientists is out of control

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1594 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🏥 Health Politics Online Harassment
  1. Harassment against scientists, including stalking, bullying, and threats, has become a common and serious issue online and offline.
  2. Many scientists, both male and female, have reported experiencing harassment, threats, and emotional stress, particularly women in the field.
  3. The high levels of harassment and threats have led to many scientists withdrawing from social media and public engagement, creating a gap in scientific communication and community trust.

Don't keep calm OR carry on

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 24 Feb 16
🎭️ Culture Online Harassment
  1. Humans once expressed emotions widely, but social media now limits us to a few emojis, raising questions about influencing young voters.
  2. Online harassment silenced a scientist, showing how internet trolls can have a significant impact beyond just online platforms.
  3. Becoming a 'weird Twitter' celebrity can be dissonant, as hundreds of thousands may see a tweet instantly, blurring the line between privacy and fame.

Eamon Levesque: We Need To Talk About Mikey

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Online Harassment
  1. Mikey's online presence highlights the phenomenon of internet micro-celebrities showcasing funny but concerning content based on their mental health struggles.
  2. The concept of a 'Cringe Vortex' categorizes how individuals can unintentionally become targets of online mockery, leading to potential mental health issues and harmful repercussions.
  3. Learning from past cases like ChrisChan, a structured understanding of the phases and potential exits from the 'Cringe Vortex' can help in recognizing and possibly preventing similar situations in the future.

Will we ever learn?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 24 Aug 15
🕹 Technology Online Harassment
  1. When women harass other women online, it often goes unnoticed in discussions about online harassment.
  2. Amazon's impact on culture is debated by authors, who argue it may hinder diversity but also acknowledge Amazon's role in facilitating discourse.
  3. Some individuals are seeking a return to a more private internet, away from the oversharing culture created by platforms like Facebook.

83% of the Web is rubbish

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 07 Nov 14
🎭️ Culture Online Harassment
  1. The term 'nerd' is used loosely nowadays, but there's a stark contrast between different types of nerds, leading to feelings of isolation and anger.
  2. There are young social media influencers who make significant money by tweeting as parody accounts, forming a lucrative network.
  3. Online mobs can wrongfully target individuals, like a stand-up comic, causing harassment and negative impacts.