At 19 years of age, Olivia DeRamus was attending university in California when she endured the trauma of a sexual assault, but her silence was enforced as she felt unable to share her experience.
Olivia remarks, "I experienced sexual assault, and my journey doesn't finish there."
Following the report, the university initiated an investigation and implemented disciplinary measures against the accused individual.
Olivia decided to eschew filing a police report in order to avoid further distress. Nevertheless, she found herself embroiled in a protracted court case for the coming years.
I ended up being sued for defamation by the person who had assaulted me.
In the United States, despite the fact that you might win the case, one still has to pay for their own legal fees - this, she thinks, was used to intimidate her into recanting her allegations since he denied the assault.
As was to be expected, she was unable to express her experience while court matters were still underway, as any comments made could be used against her.
Olivia realized that she needed to have a secure setting to converse about her situation, so she created a network that allows those in difficult situations to have their voices heard once the experience came to an end.
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Olivia remarks that abusers often take advantage of ambiguous regulations to try to keep their victims quiet.
She established Communia, which she claims is a one-of-a-kind social media platform addressing "social health", providing features such as journaling, mood tracking, community aid and other resources.
She states that connecting with oneself is just as important as connecting with others.
The app, designed for women and non-binary individuals, boasts a feed similar to Twitter, allowing users to remain anonymous if desired, for legal or personal reasons.
Olivia had endured a physical attack, and Refuge reports that more than one in three women in the UK have experienced online abuse, making Communia a safe haven for those seeking to express themselves.
Suswati Basu, a podcaster and former journalist, recently experienced a deluge of homophobic, racist, and sexist remarks after she responded to a tweet on X related to the mistreatment of asylum seekers.
Suswati feels that other platforms put her at risk.
In order to address issues such as this, Communia employs human moderators. Each member is verified via email and those discussing sensitive matters, such as sex or the #MeToo movement, must provide a photo ID for recognition - a more involved approach than other types of social media sites.
Olivia recollects being met with disbelief when she shared her plans with those in the business world; however, she maintains, it can still be achieved even on a large scale.
For users of Communia, a major attraction is the safety measures in place.
Lucy (who is not her real name) was attempting to recuperate from an eating disorder. On the social media site, Tumblr, she became friends with someone she believed to be another female experiencing anorexia.
However, her "friend" then began to request pictures as well as convey messages that left her feeling uneasy.
She discovered that she had been talking to a person, who then sent "a number of semi-nude pictures".
Lucy expressed her feeling of being violated, noting that it left her feeling unsafe.
Tumblr did not provide a statement.
"No matter what platform she tried, as soon as she revealed her identity as a woman, the atmosphere suddenly became sexualised," she narrates. Thus, she is thankful for the 'positive space' that Communia provides for females.
Male users are permitted to use the app, however they are not encouraged. According to Olivia, when men do enter the platform, the majority of the time it is for inappropriate reasons leading to their termination.
Communia stands out from other platforms in an additional way: it does not depend upon advertising. With more than 100,000 downloads, it has acquired a significant following, mostly from the UK and US.
At present, the basic version of the app is offered for free, while offering the option of paying for additional features. Olivia's aim is to develop the business and make it financially sustainable without relying on advertisements.
She argues that it is possible to generate more revenue in an accountable manner, while still providing people with the things they require, as opposed to taking away their privacy and data.
Dr. Brooke Erin Duffy, an associate professor in communication at Cornell University, notes that this may be a difficult task.
She argues that despite the platform's commendable attempts to avoid collecting data and targeting ads, it may be hard to keep up. Without the income from advertising, the platform will need to rely on its dedicated customers who pay a subscription.
She predicts that a key challenge will be to expand while still preserving the sense of community that initially attracted the users.
For Olivia, the community is invaluable, given the circumstance she has been through.
Many individuals cannot afford to fight a legal battle, so Olivia states that being able to do so and share her experience is a special opportunity.
If I can lend a helping hand to other females during their time of need, that is enough satisfaction for me.
If the topics discussed in this article have had an impact on you, you can get help and assistance by going to the BBC's Action Line.
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