[In] Second Life, that dynamic changes—you don’t have voice, body language, or eye contact to rely on. Typing “red” into local chat might go unnoticed in a fast-paced scene. A whispered message could get buried. And if your partner is emoting paragraphs of roleplay or is distracted, your safe word might not be seen right away.

Trauma doesn't stop at the login screen. If someone has a history of abuse, manipulation, or neglect, BDSM interactions—especially those involving domination, humiliation, or control—can unintentionally trigger old wounds. For some, these triggers appear suddenly, in scenes or conversations that seemed safe at first.