"Create an environment that protects women, rather than selling anxiety!": Participatory Threat Modeling with Chinese Young Women Living Alone

A CHI 2026 study with 33 young Chinese women living alone reveals how smart homes, online platforms, and public surveillance create interconnected privacy and safety risks. Researchers identified digitally-facilitated physical violence, harassment, scams, and pervasive monitoring as major threats. The study documents four mitigation strategies that often backfire and introduces a digital safety guidebook. Findings include actionable design implications for tech companies and policy recommendations to address these systemic vulnerabilities.