In fact, evidence suggests that young adults residing in low- and middle-income countries experience higher barriers to accessing digital health interventions. A recent report highlights how marginalized groups, particularly those living with HIV, experience growing online abuse that undermines their safety, privacy, and dignity. The roundtable participants came from Colombia, Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam. It uncovers startling trends of stigma, discrimination, and harassment that prevent these young people from being able to access the vital health resources and information that they need.
Dong Duc Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV (VNP+), emphasized the biggest challenge. He lamented the pervasive vulnerability youth experience in the online world. He drove home the point that stigma leads to an unsafe world for people living with HIV. Privacy violations expose these at-risk groups to even greater harm.
Back in Ghana, one workshop participant told us a painful story about a friend. After reporting an assault, this friend was subjected to police surveillance, highlighting the violence and discrimination LGBTQ folks in same-sex relationships experience. Likewise, in Colombia, transgender women sex workers experienced being stalked and attacked following non-consensual sharing of their personal information online. Together, these incidents paint a deeply concerning picture of violence and discrimination. This threatens to further discourage young adults from obtaining the health care services they desperately need.
The Impact of Online Abuse on Health Access
Women’s Aid’s report is a powerful reminder of the very personal, real-world consequences that digital abuse has on young adults and their physical and mental health. According to Professor Sara (Meg) Davis from the University of Warwick’s Center for Interdisciplinary Methodologies, these well-documented concerns form significant barriers for youth. These challenges make it difficult for them to reach needed health services.
Through discussion, participants identified a variety of barriers that prevented them from safely accessing health information online. Most of them reported that they needed to deal with dangers like stalking, blackmail, and extortion. In Vietnam, a young man was blackmailed when hackers emailed doctored images to his friends. This breach serves as a strong reminder of the dangers associated with participating in the online ecosystem.
As Dr. Bernard Koomson, one of the report’s co-authors, put it, “Young adults have clearly expressed a desire to leverage digital tools to support their health.” They won’t let you erode their privacy or their safety in the doing. He underscored the point that the young adults in our study want to leverage digital tools to improve their health. They will not settle for fewer privacy, safety or dignity while doing so.
Gender Dynamics in Digital Access
Their findings reveal the gendered nature of these digital access issues. For young women, depending on their male partners for access to mobile devices and data, this is largely due to the gender norms that are enforced in our society. This reliance creates a lack of agency, making it difficult for them to pursue health resources on their own.
In Kenya, one young woman was threatened with eviction at only 14 years old. This was largely due to an incident in which a healthcare worker inadvertently disclosed her HIV status by sending a text reminder to a shared phone. This case is a glaring example of how punishing gender roles not only infringe on young women’s digital agency, but affect their health and flourishing.
Moreover, cost and connectivity hurdles remain challenges for participants in both Kenya and Ghana. More people are worried about having to choose between food and paying for mobile data. This decision sharply curtails their access to critically important health information.
The Call for Change
The report concludes with an impassioned call to action. It calls for legal reforms and policy advocacy to ensure that digital health projects prioritize human rights, equity, and inclusion. About the author Allan Maleche, is the Executive Director of the Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN). He noted that centering digital health in these principles is especially important right now. He stated:
“Digital health must be grounded in human rights, equity, and inclusion. The Digital Health and Rights Project underscores the urgent need for legal and policy reforms to ensure access, privacy, and protection from tech-enabled abuse, especially for youth and communities living with HIV.”
Moreover, Mike Podmore, Chief Executive Officer at STOPAIDS, highlighted that while digital technologies have the potential to enhance global health responses, they expose marginalized youth to online harms that exacerbate existing inequalities.
In Colombia, Dr. Catalina Gonzalez from the Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Latin America and the Caribbean called for a reimagining of digital inclusion. She expressed:
“Our report calls for a bold reimagining of digital inclusion—one that empowers marginalized voices, protects against harm, and builds a future where technology serves as a force for equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.”
This study’s findings highlight an urgent need for advocates, researchers, policymakers, and industry players to take these issues seriously and holistically. Young people need to be confident that they can use digital spaces without being subject to online harassment or real-world violence.