A recent post by a Facebook user, Ms Marie Constance Tan, was shared widely and generated heated debate online, after her video detailed how a man on the train stared at her incessantly and moved seats twice to get closer to her.

Dr Gulizar Haciyakupoglu, an expert in gender equality advocacy in cyberspace, cautioned that posting videos may not provide full context as “the viewer is observing the issue from the angle of the recorder”.

“On the other hand, it may serve as a deterrent by reminding the perpetrator that others are watching, and it may help document the case,” said the research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

She continued: “Abuse happens once a personal space is violated and numerous women around the globe are suffering from this.

“Speaking out on harassment on a global platform via movements such as #metoo is necessary to assure people who have suffered from harassment that they are not alone and that they can speak out.”

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