Researchers from the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) at the University of Granada conducted a study focused on analyzing myths about cyber-sexual violence against women and their psychosocial impact. The research was carried out by Rocío Vizcaíno-Cuenca, Mónica Romero-Sánchez, and Hugo Carretero-Dios, members of the Sexism, Myths, and Gender Violence Laboratory (SEMIVIO lab), and is part of ongoing work on cyber-sexual violence against women.
The main goal of the study was the development and validation of the Acceptance of Myths about Cyber-Sexual Violence Against Women Scale (AMCYS), a tool designed to assess these beliefs and explore their influence on social perceptions of this type of violence. Based on previous research examining these beliefs on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter; Vizcaíno-Cuenca et al., 2024), this measure was developed and validated with more than 2,400 men and women from Spain and the United States.
Key findings showed that adherence to myths about cyber-sexual violence was positively associated with other beliefs and attitudes, such as sexism, rape myths, myths about intimate partner relationships, and social dominance orientation, and negatively associated with feminist identification. These beliefs also predicted greater victim-blaming and a lower perception of severity for different types of cyber-sexual violence.
This phenomenon is particularly relevant considering that, according to international data, up to 85% of women have experienced some form of cyber-sexual violence in their lifetime (Economic Intelligence Unit [EIU], 2021). Despite its high prevalence, many of these incidents continue to be minimized, justified, or ignored with expressions like “it’s not a big deal” or “don’t keep your profile public,” contributing to the invisibility of a form of violence that has real emotional consequences for victims.
What are myths about cyber-sexual violence?
Myths about cyber-sexual violence are a set of beliefs used to justify or normalize this type of violence against women through various mechanisms, including:
- Minimization and/or denial of this form of violence (e.g., “Many women lie when they report having experienced sexual harassment on social media”).
- Victim-blaming (e.g., “If a woman has her social media profile public, she should be aware that she is exposing herself to sexual advances from strangers”).
- Blaming the platforms themselves (e.g., “If platforms censored suggestive images of women, they wouldn’t receive obscene comments and insults”).
- Exonerating the perpetrator (e.g., “We must consider that many men do not realize the negative consequences for a woman of receiving unwanted sexual material on social media”).
Why is this work important?
The AMCYS opens new possibilities for understanding and combating cyber-sexual violence. It allows researchers and practitioners to identify myths that justify or minimize violence, understand how they affect victims, and see how they influence observers or perpetrators.
The AMCYS also enables:
- Improved awareness campaigns.
- Development of support programs for victims.
- Training professionals to act more effectively.
- Monitoring social media activity to prevent violent attitudes from becoming normalized online.
From a theoretical perspective, the AMCYS demonstrates how rape culture has moved into digital spaces, where certain myths and patriarchal values continue to justify violence without explicit repression. Understanding this is key to designing strategies that genuinely protect women and ensure their experiences are recognized, validated, and addressed.
In an increasingly digital world, breaking these myths and acting against cyber-sexual violence not only helps victims but also makes online spaces safer and more inclusive for everyone.
References
Vizcaíno-Cuenca, R., & Carretero-Dios, H. (2024). Making Visible the Myths About Cyber-Sexual Violence Against Women: An Analysis of Social Reactions toward Victims on Twitter. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(13-14), 2881-2903. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231222876
Vizcaíno-Cuenca, R., Romero-Sánchez, M., & Carretero-Dios, H. (2025). (Cyber) Rape Culture: Development and Validation of the Acceptance of Myths About Cyber-Sexual Violence Against Women (AMCYS) Scale in Spanish and English. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 49(2), 277-301. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843251330248
More information
Rocío Vizcaíno-Cuenca (@email)
Department of Behavioural Science Methodology
University of Granada