protejânduse

Protejânduse is a neologism used in Romanian-language discourse to denote the act or philosophy of protecting oneself across social, digital, and physical dimensions. It encompasses personal safety, privacy, autonomy, and resilience in the face of risks such as data surveillance, misinformation, and coercive social pressures.

Etymology and usage: The form protejânduse is built from proteja (‘to protect’) and the reflexive construction protejându-se, here repurposed as a noun. In contemporary writing it appears as a shorthand for a broader self-protection stance.

Origins and spread: The term emerged in online privacy and self-help communities in the early 2020s and has circulated in blogs, fora, and social media. It lacks formal definition in linguistic or academic sources, existing mainly as a flexible concept used by advocates of personal autonomy.

Principles and practices: Core ideas include situational awareness, digital hygiene (strong passwords, software updates, minimal data sharing), boundary setting in personal and professional relationships, critical media literacy, and proactive safety planning. It also emphasizes emotional resilience and community support.

Criticism and limitations: Protejânduse can be criticized for vagueness or cultural specificity. Critics argue that focusing on individual self-protection may overlook structural risks and collective strategies needed for systemic safety.

Related concepts include self-care, privacy by design, and digital literacy.