The digital age has transformed the landscape of authorship, once mainly characterised by solitary creation and the subsequent critical reception of a finished work. While the internet provides exceptional opportunities for authors to engage with readers, foster communities, and promote their work, it also presents a significant and growing threat: cyberbullying. This widespread issue, marked by unwanted, repetitive, aggressive, and negative behaviour via digital devices and online platforms, has serious emotional, professional, and creative impacts on writers. The recent experience of bestselling romance author Ali Hazelwood serves as a vivid case study, clearly illustrating how the distinctive dynamics of online fandoms, intensified by algorithmic design, can turn minor disagreements into widespread and damaging harassment.
Ali Hazelwood, a prominent figure in the romance genre with a substantial online following, recently deactivated her Instagram account, which had approximately 600,000 followers, following a wave of harsh online bullying. The trigger for this intense backlash was a seemingly harmless, “lighthearted joke” she made during a public panel about a character from The Hunger Games series. Hazelwood stated a preference for “Team Gale” and described the character Peeta as “kind of useless.” This casual comment, meant as a small comedic remark, quickly escalated, spreading across platforms like Reddit and resulting in her Instagram page being “flooded with angry comments and messages.”
The disproportion between the trigger and the reaction in Hazelwood’s case is significant. A simple preference about a fictional character sparked a fierce online backlash. Discussions on Reddit revealed that some users saw her comment as indicating a problematic stance against “strong, independent female characters” or a preference for “traditional gender roles.” The backlash appeared as “pairing wars” in her comment sections, a term for intense disagreements among fans over fictional character pairings, often accompanied by shaming and personal attacks. This incident clearly illustrates the fragility of online fandoms, where perceived slights, even related to fictional stories, can be seen as deeply personal insults. The intensity of these “pairing wars” reveals an emotional investment that extends beyond the normal boundaries of reader-author interaction, leading to a breakdown in rational discussion and a rapid escalation of hostility.
The immediate and most noticeable result was the deactivation of Ali Hazelwood’s Instagram account, mainly to stop the flow of “horrific comments.” Her friends said she deactivated the account because she was “technology inept” and “didn’t know how to turn off comments,” making deactivation the “only other option.” This highlights a significant underlying issue: even highly successful authors can lack the technical skills or dedicated support necessary to effectively handle online harassment. Publishers often advise authors to maintain an active social media presence for promotion, but it is often unclear whether they provide sufficient training, tools, or direct support to manage negative interactions and protect authors from online abuse.
The Ali Hazelwood incident also ignited a wider debate within the literary community about the level of interaction between authors and their fans. Many users on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) expressed strong disbelief and frustration at the extreme reactions, condemning the harassment. Other authors publicly showed their support for Hazelwood, stressing that “Authors are people too” and do not deserve such treatment over trivial issues. This incident prompted broader conversations within fandom groups about the importance of respectful online behaviour and the need to avoid “invading the author’s space.” Some commentators lamented that the “bookish community” was not “better or smarter than the rest of humanity,” with some noting that aggressive online fandom behaviour has “always been like this.” The controversy highlighted how some fans develop an unhealthy obsession with authors’ lives outside their creative work, fostering a “parasocial dynamic” where readers feel entitled to access and influence an author’s personal opinions.
This “parasocial dynamic” is a vital aspect of the shifting author-reader relationship in the digital age. The widespread use of eBooks and social media has created a more direct and immediate connection, offering benefits such as fostering genuine relationships, receiving instant feedback, building dedicated communities, and promoting literary works with minimal cost. Social media allows targeted distribution, immediacy, and encourages two-way communication, enabling the public to share opinions directly with authors. However, this increased access has also blurred professional boundaries and led to an increase in parasocial interactions. Digital platforms enable direct, often unfiltered contact between authors and readers, which can lead to readers forming intense, one-sided relationships where they feel they “know” the author personally. This perceived closeness can lead to a sense of entitlement regarding the author’s private life and views, even on fictional matters. When fans become deeply invested in an author’s preferences, they may feel justified in reacting strongly to minor comments. As a result, authors are no longer seen just as content creators; they are now public figures whose personal choices and online behaviour are scrutinised and subject to disproportionate criticism.
The forms of cyberbullying against authors are varied and harmful. Beyond general online harassment, authors often face inflammatory or hateful comments on discussion boards, across social media platforms, and through direct emails. These can range from derogatory remarks to explicit physical threats. As seen in Hazelwood’s case, “pairing wars” and fandom disputes — where intense disagreements among fans over fictional character pairings escalate quickly — can lead to widespread spamming and harassment in an author’s comment sections. Fake reviews and review bombing, which are often coordinated campaigns of fake negative reviews on platforms like Goodreads, directly damage an author’s reputation and livelihood. Doxing (revealing personal information) and impersonation are also serious forms of cyberbullying. Additionally, authors from marginalised backgrounds — including women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), and LGBTQIA+ individuals — or those who express specific political or personal opinions are disproportionately targeted. A survey found that 46% of female writers faced attacks based on their sex or gender identity, and 45% of writers of colour experienced attacks related to their race or ethnicity. This also applies to authors who portray sensitive topics in ways that do not meet certain expectations. This type of harassment often goes beyond simple literary criticism, developing into aggressive, personal attacks driven by prejudice based on identity or fervent fan communities.
The psychological impact of cyberbullying is significant. People who face online harassment often report feelings of upset, embarrassment, foolishness, fear, anger, and shame, which can lead to a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Research shows a high rate of serious mental health issues among those who are cyberbullied, including anxiety (37%), depression (36%), suicidal thoughts (24%), and self-harm (23%). Nearly 70% of students who experienced online harassment reported anxiety and distress, and almost half experienced increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, and depression. The persistent nature of digital harassment increases its psychological toll, as cyberbullying can occur twenty-four hours a day, making it very hard for victims to find relief or escape. It can generate a sense of being “attacked everywhere, even inside your own home,” with “no escape.” This “always-on” aspect sets cyberbullying apart from traditional bullying, which usually has physical boundaries. For authors, whose professional and personal lives are linked to online platforms, the constant risk of exposure means there is no real safe haven.
Beyond psychological effects, chronic stress caused by cyberbullying can also show physically, leading to tiredness, sleep issues, stomach pains, and headaches. Victims might also withdraw socially and experience negative self-talk, guilt, or a constant sense of being judged unfairly. A survey of writers found that nearly a quarter reported feeling isolated from loved ones because of harassment.
The impact of cyberbullying extends into authors’ professional lives and creative processes. Online harassment can severely harm reputations, potentially affecting future opportunities. For authors, this can directly threaten their professional standing, with over one-third of surveyed writers reporting damage to their reputation and significant difficulties in promoting their work effectively. A serious consequence is self-censorship, often referred to as the “digital spiral of silence.” Out of fear of harassment, authors may avoid certain topics in their writing or research, opting instead for “safe topics.” More than one-third of the surveyed writers reported actively avoiding specific subjects due to online harassment. This practice has deep implications for innovation and for challenging mainstream ideas within literature. Online harassment often leads to decreased productivity and a reluctance to engage in online activities or maintain a digital presence. Over 60% of writers surveyed said they took a break from social media because of harassment, and a notable percentage permanently deleted their accounts. In severe cases, authors have withdrawn their books from publication entirely because of intense online abuse. The Authors Guild notes that online hostility disproportionately affects authors from marginalised groups, leading to the “stifling of diverse voices and free expression.” This creates a significant chilling effect on individual careers and the wider literary community, encouraging conformity and the production of content that upholds existing norms.
Social media platforms play a central role in enabling and amplifying cyberbullying. These digital spaces provide essential tools for spreading false information, posting embarrassing content, and sending hurtful messages. The digital environment naturally features qualities that unintentionally facilitate and intensify cyberbullying. Anonymity and concealed identity are easily accessible, giving bullies the freedom to act with less remorse. Content posted online is known for its lasting and public nature, creating a permanent online record. The ongoing communication enabled by digital devices makes it particularly difficult for victims to find relief or escape from harassment. The widespread and global reach of these platforms means that online bullying can feel like an attack “everywhere, even inside your own home.”
Furthermore, social media algorithms, carefully designed to boost user engagement and keep users on the platform for longer periods, prioritise content based on its potential relevance to the user and their previous interactions.
Here are five things you can do to help you remain safe against cyberbullying:
- Be mindful of potential self-censorship and its effects: While self-censorship can be damaging, authors should recognise the “digital spiral of silence” and actively resist the urge to avoid certain subjects due to fears of harassment. This isn’t about safety through prevention but about safeguarding creative freedom and voice despite the risks.
- Develop technical skills for managing online interactions or seek specialised support: Ali Hazelwood’s case highlighted a lack of technical knowledge to turn off comments, leading to deactivation. Learn how to manage your privacy settings, comment moderation, and blocking features on platforms, or ensure you have support from your publisher or others who can assist with these technical aspects.
- Foster a culture of respectful online engagement within communities: Ali Hazelwood’s experiences prompted broader discussions within fandom groups about the importance of respectful online behaviour. Actively encourage and promote respectful dialogue within online communities, possibly establishing clear guidelines for interaction.
- Be aware of and manage the “parasocial dynamic”: Recognise that increased direct access can cause readers to form intense, one-sided relationships and feel entitled to an author’s private life. Although not explicitly mentioned as a specific action, you can subtly set boundaries to prevent this dynamic from resulting in disproportionate criticism.
- Consider taking breaks from social media or deleting accounts when facing harassment. Over 60% of writers surveyed took a break from social media due to harassment, and a notable percentage permanently deleted their accounts. This is a practical step you can take to distance yourself and find relief from ongoing abuse.
The Original Writers Group 