Online Privacy and Social Media Regulation in India and Globally: A Gendered Analysis of Women’s Portrayal examines how digital governance frameworks intersect with gendered experiences in contemporary online spaces. As social media platforms increasingly shape public discourse and identity formation, women face heightened risks of privacy violations, cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing, trolling, and algorithmic misrepresentation. This paper critically evaluates India’s evolving regulatory landscape—including the Information Technology Act, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and platform-specific guidelines—while comparing them with global frameworks such as the GDPR, EU Digital Services Act, and international safety standards. By analyzing legal provisions, enforcement mechanisms, and platform moderation practices, the study highlights gaps that disproportionately affect women, particularly in contexts of patriarchal norms, digital surveillance, and inadequate redressal systems.