Emotional reactions are exactly what they want, and the stronger your emotional response, the more aggressive their efforts will be. State your case calmly if you need to and leave it there. Trolls want a reaction from you, but why give them what they want?
Block and report anyone who starts to become abusive. Most websites have strict rules about trolling and will take action. Some social media platforms have a mute facility so you don’t need to be bothered by them.
Send a short formal warning such as “do not contact me again” and record this along with any further contact in a screenshot evidence file. Learn how to take screenshots and store evidence correctly in our technical advice section.
If you are not sure about someone, check out their user handle or profile name on Google to see if there are any negative comments or if they have a history of trolling.
Always make sure the websites and social media platforms you use have clear abuse and harassment reporting facilities. If they don’t – it is probably representative of the way they treat their users.
Privacy policies are forever changing and updating. Google your own name to double-check what personal information you have made public. You’ll be surprised to see how much of your data is out there!
Remember, you may become the target of someone you already know. This could be an ex-partner or jealous friend, someone you have fallen out with or even a business rival. These kinds of hate campaigns can be devastating and affect all areas of your life. Explore our reputation management section to learn how to manage your online presence.
Whoever it is, they will leave a digital footprint every time they post a message, publish an image or write an email, so make sure you record and store every piece of evidence. If things need escalating to a legal level – you might need to demonstrate ‘ongoing harassment’ for successful legal action.
Being targeted by trolls can be exhausting, but remember it will end. You can learn more about dealing with an incident or visit our Total Access Support section to find out about the various ways that we can help you.
When down and out, I know I have powerful outlets to connect with and that’s the brilliant magic in Cybersmile. In this digital age, Cybersmile serves as a community where we can control not only the tone and tenor of our online conversation, but also help positively influence others so that such behaviour trickles down. This is why at least…Laura, Chicago, USA
