Reflections: From Then to Now

We started OnlineSOS to create a digital safe haven for people when they were targeted and threatened online.

Online abuse can take different, severe forms - hate speech, stalking, and threats, to extortion, deep fakes, coordinated harassment, and other violations of privacy.

We believed people shouldn’t have to suffer alone, in silence. Our mission was to ensure people have information to take action and a sense of choice in a time of distress.

The mission was born out of personal lived experiences. Our team set out to create the resources we wish we had.

So we provided tactical and emotional support with a focus on mental health, including free therapy and case management, legal assistance, and expert-backed content. Our content was developed from firsthand experiences supporting journalists, public figures, and everyday Americans respond to online threats as well as contributions from psychologists, lawyers, cybersecurity professionals, and tech platforms.

Back in 2016, there was a critical gap in resources. Today, online harassment is widely recognized as a pressing issue, with a growing ecosystem of efforts to provide support.

Our board recognized we’d have greater impact together, than alone. The decision to join PEN America is a strategic step forward to ensure the long-term accessibility of OnlineSOS’s resources and broaden our reach.

A Personal Note of Gratitude

To our community who made all of this possible, we wouldn’t be here without you.

This transition is a celebration: for every person who trusted us in their time of need, every expert who contributed their knowledge, and every supporter who believed this work mattered when it was invisible to most - thank you.

🔵 Thank you to our remarkable board members - Claire, Steven, Katie, Wendy, and Stephanie - and Executive Director, Terri, for your steadfast leadership.

🔵 Thank you to our exceptional team members over the last 9 years - your contributions made it possible for people to get tactical and emotional support in the face of online harassment. Your talent and efforts live on, and even more people will access these resources that you built.

🔵 Thank you to our outstanding advisors, advocates, partners, donors, and pro bono counsel. Your passion and generosity have made the vision of a safer internet a reality, through numerous pivots, growth, and even moments of crisis to help someone facing severe online abuse.

🔵 Thank you to everyone who understood that what happens online has real consequences – and that online harassment can cause psychological trauma. A special thank you to Sam, Nina, and Soo – the mental health professionals who provided compassionate care and clinical insight.

🔵 We’re so grateful to all the people and organizations who came before us - and remain inspired by those who continue this important work. We’re so honored to pass the baton to the Digital Safety team at PEN America.

🔵 Lastly and most importantly, to anyone who has experienced online abuse, we stand with you. It takes an immense amount of strength and courage to navigate, respond, and recover from these types of incidents. We acknowledge you for your resilience and hope you continue to thrive.

With gratitude,

Liz Lee, Founder of OnlineSOS