Rape Threats Are Not “Just Comments.” They’re Crimes. So Why Do Men Get Away With Them?

In an age where we can report a meme faster than a rape threat, we have to ask: Why is it so easy to threaten a woman online and walk away like nothing happened?

In April 2025, Indian content creator Apoorva Mukhija, known as "The Rebel Kid," faced a torrent of online abuse following her appearance on the YouTube show India’s Got Latent. After the episode aired, she received a deluge of rape, acid attack, and death threats. In a powerful Instagram post, she shared screenshots of these messages, captioning it, "and that's not even 1%".

And yet — no arrests, no outrage, no real fear among the perpetrators.

Which brings us to the real question:

"How did we become a society where threatening to rape a woman is easier than correcting a typo online?"

This wasn’t just another “hate comment” on the internet. This was a reflection of the toxic mindset that believes a woman who dares to step into the public space can—and should—be punished. But why is it still so easy to threaten a woman online and walk away without facing any consequences?
Even today, women are judged more than the men who harm them. Our culture often rationalizes hate and violence by blaming women for being too visible, too opinionated, or simply not conforming. From questioning a woman’s clothing to doubting her intentions, we’ve normalized a dangerous mindset that believes violence against women is somehow provoked.A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that about 26% of Indian adults believe that teaching girls to "behave appropriately" is more important than teaching boys to "respect all women" to improve women's safety. This reflects a victim-blaming attitude that places the responsibility for preventing violence on women themselves, rather than addressing the behavior of potential perpetrators. Such views contribute to the normalization of online abuse and rape threats, as they suggest that women's actions, rather than men's, are the primary concern in preventing violence Rape threats are often dismissed as "just words," or worse, "just trolling." However, such threats are not trivial comments—they are expressions of violent intent that seek to silence, intimidate, and control. According to UN Women, India has one of the highest rates of online gender-based violence. Women who speak out on political, social, or personal matters are often targeted for their visibility. Instead of recognizing the emotional and psychological trauma these threats cause, society frequently asks women to simply block and move on. The line between a harmless comment and a genuine threat can be dangerously blurred, creating an environment where abuse is minimized and accountability is absent. The internet has given people anonymity, and with it, the power to behave without accountability. A man with a fake username can type out a rape threat in seconds and vanish. The lack of consequence emboldens them further. According to Pew Research Center, nearly 60% of women who experience online abuse do not report it because either the platform doesn’t act or the perpetrator can’t be identified. This anonymity turns potential violence into a game, a joke, a thrill for the offender. It dehumanizes the woman at the receiving end and gives a false sense of invincibility to the harasser. Yes, laws like the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013 and Sections 354D and 509 of the Indian Penal Code criminalize stalking, obscene messages, and threats. But enforcement is the missing piece. Cybercrime cells across the country are under-equipped, understaffed, and often dismissive of online threats unless a woman is physically harmed. Most victims are told to delete their accounts or stop engaging instead of being protected. Reporting an online rape threat rarely leads to an arrest, let alone a conviction. The gap between legislation and implementation is wide—and predators are fully aware of it. Big tech platforms—Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter)—claim to care about user safety, but their actions tell a different story. Content that incites violence or promotes misogyny often goes viral before it's flagged. Even then, action is slow or absent. Automated moderation tools often miss context, and human moderation is inconsistent. Meanwhile, outrage content drives clicks, comments, and ad revenue. These platforms profit from engagement, and hateful content sadly delivers that. Unless the hate attracts national media attention, the abuser gets away with it, and the woman is left to deal with the trauma alone. Patriarchy is not just about power—it’s about conditioning. Most boys are never taught how to process rejection, how to take ‘no’ for an answer, or how to treat women as equals. Masculinity is often framed in terms of dominance, not empathy. So when a woman is independent, visible, or assertive, it threatens the fragile ego built on entitlement. This can turn into abuse, threats, and even violence. According to NCRB data from 2022, 93% of rape cases in India involved someone known to the victim. This isn’t about anonymous monsters. It’s about men raised in environments where control over women is normalized and rarely questioned. When women are targeted online, the first advice they receive is not to fight back—but to stay quiet. Parents suggest deleting the app. Friends recommend ignoring the troll. Platforms don’t respond. The silence of those around her often becomes more deafening than the abuse itself. But that silence isn’t neutral—it enables. It sends a message to every woman: your safety is optional, your outrage inconvenient. The lack of collective action turns fear into a daily reality for women online. And over time, even the most violent threats start to feel like just another Tuesday on the internet.
The normalization of rape threats is not an anomaly—it's a symptom of a much deeper societal issue. We need immediate reforms in our legal system, education, and digital spaces. Men must be taught from a young age about consent, respect, and emotional maturity. Social media platforms must be held accountable for failing to protect their users, and law enforcement agencies need to step up their response to online harassment.

But perhaps the real question is this:

What kind of men are we raising—ones who feel powerful when they uplift others, or ones who feel powerful when they destroy them with a sentence?

Until the fear of consequence outweighs the thrill of abuse, until society sees such threats not as words but as warnings of what we’ve normalized—nothing will change.