Social media platforms are often in the spotlight when it comes to how they handle unwelcome behaviour online. While Facebook, Twitter and other platforms can set their own policies about what speech is allowed based on their own terms and values, they must abide by the local law in which they operate. Different countries have taken varying approaches to the legality of hate speech, and many have called for new legislation to be able to hold perpetrators to account for their comments.
Human rights experts point out that speech should not impede on the human rights of others; targeted harassment is designed to silence or cause victims to self-censor. Therefore, speech without regard to harm can actually suppress speech, particularly for vulnerable groups.
All bullying, whatever the motivation or method is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. It can affect anyone and we are all potential targets – whether we are a well-known sports star, adult, child or the bullying is at school, in the community, at work, online or at home.
In this article we will be looking at the different types of online abuse, some tips and advice on best practice when dealing with online abuse and also look at some of the affects online can have on our mental wellbeing.
Types of online abuse
There are many types of online abuse. Some of the types include:
Harassment – This is the act of sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages and being abusive. Nasty or humiliating comments on posts, photos and in chat rooms. Being explicitly offensive.
Denigration – This is when someone may send information about another person that is fake, damaging and untrue. Sharing photos of someone for the purpose to ridicule, spreading fake rumours and gossip. This can be on any site online or on apps. We even hear about people altering photos of others and posting it online for the purpose of bullying.
Flaming – This is when someone is purposely using really extreme and offensive language and getting into online arguments and fights. They do this to cause reactions and enjoy the fact it causes someone to get distressed.
Impersonation – This is when someone will hack into someone’s email or social networking account and use the person’s online identity to send or post vicious or embarrassing material to/about others. The making up of fake profiles on social network sites, apps and online are common place and it can be really difficult to get them closed down.
Outing and Trickery – This is when someone may share personal information about another or trick someone into revealing secrets and forward it to others. They may also do this with private images and videos too.
Cyber Stalking – This is the act of repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm, harassment, intimidating messages, or engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety. The actions may be illegal too depending on what they are doing.
Exclusion – This is when others intentionally leave someone out of a group such as group messages, online apps, gaming sites and other online engagement. This is also a form of social bullying and very common.
Bullying by spreading rumours and gossip
The worst thing about social networking sites and messaging apps, is that online abuse can be seen by lots of people and these posts can go viral very fast and be shared by so many people within minutes in some cases.
According to a study by bullying.co.uk. People who have been bullied online, gossip and rumours are often spread by people who were once friends or work colleagues. Posting false and malicious details about people on the internet can be classed as harassment.
Threatening behaviour
Anyone who makes threats to you on the internet could be committing a criminal offence. It is against the law in the UK to use the phone system, which includes the internet, to cause alarm or distress. It could also be against the 1997 Harassment Act. If threats are made against you then it is essential you make a complaint to the police. If you can’t print out the threats use the “print screen” button or snipping tool to take a snapshot of the computer screen and then save that somewhere safe. Or if you have a phone or tablet, use the screenshot function and keep these images safe.
Tips and advice
- If an individual posts abuse or sends threats, they can be traced by the police without any difficulty. Every time an individual visits a website or makes a posting, your internet service provider should have an electronic note of your activity. Even if you create an anonymous email.
- Keep safe by using unusual passwords. Use a combination of letters, lowercase, uppercase, symbols and numbers. Don’t use any part of your name or email address and don’t use your birth date either because that’s easy for people who know you to guess. Don’t let anyone see you signing in and if they do, change the password as soon as you can.
- If you are using a public computer such as one in a library, computer shop, or even a shared family computer, be sure to sign out of any web service you are using before leaving the computer so that you can protect your privacy.
- Think twice before you post anything online because once it’s out there you can’t take it back. It is easy for any comments or posts you make online to be taken out of context and these could be damaging to you in the long term. Consider reading more about digital footprints and how this can affect your life both online and offline.
For many, online abuse affects their everyday lives and is a constant source of distress and worry. With mobile technology being so freely available it is an ongoing issue and one that is relentless. Not only does it go on after college or work has finished, but it then carries through into the next day and the cycle continues. It has been well documented that online abuse has resulted in tragic events including suicide, and self-harm.
If you are worried that your loved one might be the victim of online abuse, below are some tell-tale signs:
- Low self-esteem
- Withdrawal from family and spending a lot of time alone
- Reluctance to let parents or other family members anywhere near their mobiles, laptops etc
- Finding excuses to stay away from school or work including school refusal
- Friends disappearing or being excluded from social events
- Losing weight or changing appearance to try and fit in
- A change in personality i.e. anger, depression, crying, withdrawn
How can Care first help?
If you feel you may need some support you can also contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support.
Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.
If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Unwelcome behaviour online’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 28th July at 12pm, join us on the day or register now by clicking on the link below to ensure your place:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3878680515422494476
If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.