Four Ways Black Women Can Protect Our Mental Health on Social Media

Expert Psychologist Describes How Black Women Can Create an Online Life that Features Self-Care, Connection and Empowerment  

Keep calm and avoid the misogynoir doomscroll. Image credit: Katrin Bolovtsova

Social media presents significant impacts to mental health. This is especially the case for Black women who are subject to the spread of devastating and largely unaccountable online misogynoir: hate targeting Black women based on both race and gender. 

From the increasing misogynoir by far right accounts (fueled by the most recent Musk administration) that forced me to leave Twitter (X) to Black female celebrities like Halle Bailey and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (who were subject to racist and sexist  attacks after they were each cast in roles  originated by white actors), social media continues to make Black women targets for racism. The racist attacks on Beyoncé after she won Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys with her country album, “Cowboy Carter,” which was (apparently) already controversial for being made by a Texan Black woman, forced the Grammys to come to her defense on Instagram.  

Misogynoir can impact our mental health by increasing “the likelihood of suffering stress and anxiety,” says Dr. Ohemaa Nkansa-Dwamena, psychologist and associate professor at St George’s, University of London. On a long-term basis, it can force us to suppress our true selves in spaces where we’re not allowed to be our authentic selves without hatred directed at us, she adds. Misogynoir can also impair self-esteem and create a sense of not belonging. 

We may not be able to control everything we see online, but we can try to protect our mental health against harmful experiences that may come with having an online presence. If you choose to stay on social media, here are four ways you can protect yourself and and other Black women.

1. Engage with content that amplifies Black women. By curating our feeds and engaging with contents that amplify and advocate for Black women, we can create safe spaces that celebrate and represent Black women, says Dr. Nkansa-Dwamena. By engaging content that presents Black women in a positive light, we can encourage our algorithms to show similar contents on our feeds, rather than those intended to be offensive.  
   

2. Avoid commenting or engaging with problematic posts. By not engaging reactive misogynoiristic content, you avoid boosting its visibility. 

3. Take breaks.  Taking offline breaks and focusing on developing one’s self is important for creating a life that features self-care, connection and empowerment, says Dr. Nkansa-Dwamena. “Engage with supportive spaces to support the processing and healing from misogynoir — this could be therapy with culturally sensitive professionals or group spaces specifically for Black women,” she adds.  

4. Build your network.  Representation is integral, says Dr. Nkansa-Dwamena. By surrounding ourselves with people who empower us, rather than gaslight our experiences online, we can go some way toward protecting ourselves online. Building a network of people who share similar values aids identification and reduces isolation. “It can also create the experience of feeling seen and heard, perhaps providing the opportunity to share stories.”