"Rising Concerns Over Viral Attacks on Women in NYC Spark Outrage and Awareness"

The New York Times faced criticism for an Instagram post downplaying recent viral videos of women being randomly punched on the streets of New York City, with commenters accusing the publication of sexism and gaslighting the assault victims. The post suggested that the videos might be "stoking anxiety" about crime, prompting backlash from readers who argued that the incidents should be labeled as violent misogynistic attacks by men against women. The victims shared their experiences on social media, with one suspect being charged in connection with an attack. The incidents have raised concerns about safety and prompted calls for victims to file police reports in addition to documenting the assaults online.