Boundary violations on social media

Half of the women under 35 who were interviewed said that they had received offensive sexual messages on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp. This is revealed in the “Un_Safe Spaces Report” by cosnova Beauty and forsa, which highlights the extent of digital harassment. A representative study of around 1,500 women aged between 18 and 35 also found that one-third of those affected do not react to social media harassment. The most common reason given was helplessness. This is because 58% of victims are convinced that reacting to the harassment would have no effect.

cosnova wants to do something about this feeling of helplessness: “Digital violence is a social problem that we can no longer ignore. Any form of boundary violation on the internet is unacceptable and should not be considered the norm. As our brands essence and Catrice mainly communicate via digital channels, it is particularly important to us that our communities feel safe in these spaces. This is one of the reasons why cosnova feels that it has a responsibility to not only educate, but also to provide concrete help,” explains Bülent Özdemir, Global Brand Director of the essence brand.

With the “cosnova says NO” initiative, cosnova and its brands essence and Catrice are working towards creating a world in which women can live without fear. Since 2023, the beauty company has been raising awareness of the issue and working to protect those affected by sending a clear message every year to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. This year, the focus is on abuse in digital spaces.

Verbal harassment, unsolicited nude images and cyberstalking are the most common forms of digital violence

The findings of the “Un_Safe Spaces Report” show the types of boundary violations that women are particularly often confronted with online:

• One in two women interviewed said that they had received sexually offensive messages or comments on social media. 
• 40% report having been sent unsolicited nude photos, “dick pics” or pornographic images.
• A third of those interviewed have experienced harassment or stalking on social media.

In addition, 27% of the women interviewed said that they had been threatened via direct messages or comments on one or more occasions, while 21% said that they had experienced someone impersonating another person in order to manipulate them. The “Un_Safe Spaces Report” also revealed that more than one in ten women had experienced very serious boundary violations, such as the publication of intimate images or videos without their consent.

Figures from HateAid illustrate the serious consequences of digital abuse for society as a whole: “Almost two-thirds of 18 to 27-year-olds have witnessed digital abuse, and nearly 30% have experienced it themselves. 

It is particularly alarming that more than half censor themselves for fear of being attacked, meaning that they are less likely to express their opinions online. This means important voices are disappearing from public discourse, which we cannot accept. Our society is losing perspectives that are essential for a diverse and fair democracy, as well as influence over political decisions and representation,” adds HateAid Managing Director Anna-Lena von Hodenberg.

Helplessness and resignation:
Why a third of affected women do not react to the attacks

The cosnova study shows that one third of women who have experienced digital boundary violations do not react to them. There are many reasons for this passivity:

•  58% of those affected are convinced that a reaction would not achieve anything anyway.
•  46% subsequently consider the incidents to be insignificant.
• 28% do not know how they can defend themselves.

When women do react, their focus is on protecting themselves: 65% block or delete the comment, and 42% report the incident to the platform provider. Only 4% file a criminal complaint.

“The “Un_Safe Spaces Report” clearly shows that we need preventative measures and direct support for those affected. In 2024, our INAO brand joined forces with HateAid to take a stand against digital violence. As part of “cosnova says NO”, we are continuing this commitment by working with Zonta Germany as well as HateAid to support educational efforts and provide helpful tools, thereby raising awareness of the issue,” adds Astrid Haury, Senior Manager Corporate Responsibility at cosnova Beauty.

Strong together: Collaboration with HateAid, Frankfurt Galaxy, Sebastian Rode and Sarah Bora

To counteract boundary violations in digital spaces and empower victims, cosnova is focusing on two specific levers: Firstly, by providing financial support for the HateAid app, “MeldeHelden” (Report Heroes). Developed in collaboration with HateAid and the HMdJ (Hessian Ministry of Justice and for the Rule of Law), it enables users to record incidents on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat and other platforms in one place, forward them in a controlled manner and document them in a structured way. It also offers helpful measures and information for victims of digital violence.

Secondly, collaborating with male ambassadors aims to prevent all men from being stigmatised as potential perpetrators. Instead, the intention is to gain their support in the fight for a non-violent society, particularly with regard to violence against women.

In this context, cosnova has been collaborating with the Frankfurt Galaxy football team since July 2025. “The fight against violence against women needs male allies who take a clear stand. Digital violence is just as real as violence on the street or on the playing field, and it can affect anyone,” says Eintracht legend and Galaxy brand ambassador Sebastian Rode. The 2022 Europa League winner has been an anti-violence ambassador for the state of Hesse for over a decade. Together with players from Frankfurt Galaxy, Rode uses his platform in male-dominated team sports to promote respectful relationships and inspire others to protect women in dangerous situations and address problematic behaviour within their social circles.

Sarah Bora, the founder of the #dienächste network and a survivor of domestic and digital violence herself, is supporting the “cosnova says NO” initiative for the third year in a row. With her authentic voice and commitment to ending intimate partner violence, she demonstrates the importance of listening to victims and breaking the silence.

Violence prevention and emergency aid:
150,000 Euros for Frauenhauskoordinierung and Zonta

Since 2023, the “cosnova says NO” initiative has taken a clear stand in the fight to end violence against women, donating a total of 220,000 Euros to date.  This year, the cosmetics company is supporting two significant initiatives in this fight with a donation totalling 150,000 Euros:

Through a women's shelter fund, Frauenhauskoordinierung e.V. provides emergency aid to women suffering from violence. With their #DigitaleGewaltBeenden project (End Digital Violence), they are also combatting violence in the digital space.

The Union of German Zonta Clubs has been a partner of “cosnova says NO” from the very beginning and will use the donation to carry out school projects in the Rhine-Main area on topics such as gender roles, digital violence and consent. The aim is to raise awareness among girls and boys from an early age.

About the “Un_Safe Spaces Report: Gender-based violence experienced by young women in Germany”

On behalf of cosnova Beauty, forsa Gesellschaft für Sozialforschung und statistische Analysen mbH conducted a representative study on the topic of “Gender-based violence experienced by young women”. Interviews were conducted with 2,024 women aged between 18 and 65, including 1,501 women aged between 18 and 35. The age group was selected on the basis of the core target group of the company’s brands essence and Catrice, which cosnova wanted to highlight within the framework of the survey. The interviews were conducted via the representative online panel forsa.omninet from 6 to 15 January 2025. In addition to the topic of “partner violence”, the study also examined gender-specific boundary violations in social media and the experiences of young women who have been subjected to violence in public spaces.