Social Media

Harassment: When someone is being harassed on social media, they may receive continuous messages from one person or a group of people with the intention of causing embarrassment, distress, or fear. Persistent harassers will continue to harass the victim even after having their social media accounts blocked by setting up numerous anonymous or 'fake' identities so that they can simply move to the next account. There is legislation in place to protect people from ongoing or long-term harassment in most parts of the world.

Revenge porn: When someone releases pornographic or sexually explicit images or videos of someone without their consent. Normally, these images are distributed on websites dedicated to revenge porn or adult content. Sometimes they end up on social media platforms, promoted to cause maximum damage to their victims.

Doxing: When someone is being doxed, their personal information, such as their home address, phone number, or bank account details, is distributed to public websites and forums. Sometimes, the threat of doxing can be used to blackmail people into doing something they wouldn't normally consider. Social media can be used to amplify the threat of exposure.

Corporate or professional attacks: One of the most common ways for a corporate or professional attack to occur is for one person or a group of people to spread malicious lies about a company or professional on social media, with the purpose of reaching a global audience and damaging their reputation.

Cyberstalking: Cyberstalking is similar to harassment but is normally done by somebody who knows the victim. The act of cyberstalking is when an individual (most commonly someone who was once close to the victim, such as an ex-partner) will obsessively attempt to make contact with or try to gain information on the person they are stalking digitally. The stalker often creates new identities online to get close to the victim without their knowledge. They can also make anonymous threats through social media.

When facing any cyberbullying-related issue through social media, it's important to take appropriate action, such as notifying the platform of the behavior or seeking professional help when needed.

Don't retaliate: Resist the temptation to defend, justify, or explain yourself. You don't have to, and it is exactly what a bully wants: a response. Use the tools available on the platform you are using to report, block, mute, filter, or delete abusive users or content that you do not want to see.

Tell someone: Talk to someone that you trust. This could be a close friend, a family member, a teacher, or a trusted adult that you know. Trying to deal with cyberbullying alone can be emotionally traumatic. It is important to get support so that you don't become isolated or overwhelmed.

Privacy and security: Check all your online accounts to ensure your security and privacy settings are tailored to your needs and are keeping you safe. You can choose who you want to interact with and what level of interaction you would like with other internet users. Always keep any personal details private and secure.

Supporting others: If a friend is being bullied online, get a message to them to let them know it is not their fault and that you are there to support them. Resist the initial temptation to jump in and defend them publicly, as this may make things worse. Support your friend by asking them what they need and helping them find a solution.

Save evidence: If the problem continues, you might need to demonstrate 'ongoing harassment' for legal action to commence at a later date. There are existing anti-harassment laws in most parts of the world that can be applied much more easily if you can show the abuse has been 'long-term.'

Whenever cyberbullying occurs, it is important to recognize it in its various forms and how it could affect you or someone that you know. If you would like to explore additional resources to help you deal with your situation, you can visit our Support Hub.