The Department for Culture, Media and Sports has accepted recommendations from the Law Commission to base crimes on “likely psychological harm” after a number of high-profile online abuse cases involving sports journalists and Premier League athletes.

Ministers will consider a new law that will shift the focus from the content of a message to its effect, creating offenses of “threatening communications,” “knowingly false communication” and “pile-ons,” The Times reported.

“Threatening communications,” for example, will target messages and posts that contain threats of harm intended to mainly create a state of fear for the victim, while “pile-ons” would address an incident in which a number of individuals gang up on someone with harassing messages on social media.

The plan has been sent to the cabinet for approval, with Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries reportedly intending to add the new offenses to a bill that will be introduced to Parliament next month.