[News] “I was sued for millions by my abuser… And I created a social network to help other victims”

[FNX Magokiler]

Olivia DeRamus was studying at the University of California (United States) when she was sexually assaulted. She was 19 years old.

As if the assault was not enough, her situation worsened when she discovered that she could not talk about what had happened to her.

“I was sexually assaulted. And my story doesn’t end there,” she stated DeRamus.

After reporting what happened, the university began an investigation and took action against the alleged perpetrator.

The young woman chose not to go to the police to avoid further trauma. However, this did not prevent her from ending up trapped in a legal battle that lasted years.

“The perpetrator of my attack sued me for defamation,” she explained.

Creating a shelter
In the US, if someone sues you, even if you win you need money to pay the fees of the lawyers who defended you.

The woman believes financial pressure was used to try to get her to recant, since her complainant denied the assault.

And as often happens in these types of proceedings, she discovered that while the court battle was going on, she could not talk about her case, to prevent her comments from being used against her in court.

DeRamus felt that she desperately needed a safe space to discuss what was happening, but she couldn't find one.

So, when the process came to an end, she decided to create a new social network to give people in difficult circumstances a place where they can be heard.

 

 

She founded Communia, which she says is the first social network of its kind that addresses “social health,” offering features like journaling, mood tracking, community support, and other resources.

“You can connect with yourself as much as you can connect with others,” she said.

The app, aimed at women and non-binary people, was designed “Twitter style” but can be used anonymously, either for legal reasons or simply to maintain privacy.

Open to those who need it
DeRamus was physically assaulted, but victims of online abuse – according to the charity Refuge, this represents one in three women in the UK – have also embraced Communia as a safe place to express themselves.

One of them is Suswati Basu, a podcast host and former journalist. Basu claimed that her online accounts were “flooded” with homophobic, racist and sexist comments after she reacted to a post on X, formerly Twitter, about the treatment of asylum seekers.

The woman stated that other platforms make her “vulnerable.”

To address issues like this, Communia relies on human moderators.

They also verify all members via email, and if they want to talk about certain topics like sex or the #MeToo movement, users must be verified via photo ID, a much more practical strategy than on other social media platforms.

“When I told people in the industry, they thought I was crazy,” DeRamus explained. But she insists it can be done, even on a large scale

 

https://www.elmostrador.cl/braga/2023/12/07/fui-demandada-por-millones-por-mi-abusador-y-cree-una-red-social-para-ayudar-a-otras-victimas/