Online harassment can take a toll on you, that can lead to social retardness, anxiety, depression, low confidence, and different types of phobias. Over time, the situation gets out of your control, and you find yourself in a limbo of trauma, indifference, pessimism, and an inferiority complex. But in all these situations, there is one thing that you have to remember, and that is that it is not your fault. People who are trying to demean you or downgrade you in any way are already below you. They are desperate to get attention and show themselves above you because they won’t be able to do so in any other way.
What is Online Harassment?
Online harassment is a malicious activity that someone does to you using online channels to make fun of you, damage your reputation, demean you, intimidate you, undermine you, mentally abuse you, and deride you. To do so, they use various methods which include online bullying, sending you mean messages, spreading lies about you, sending you weird messages to make you feel unsafe, posting hurtful comments on your posts, etc.
Online harassment is a heinous act that targets your vulnerabilities, differences, unique orientations, identity, and opinions. The aim is to make you feel embarrassed, inferior, useless, unworthy, and a person good for nothing. It can happen with you anywhere, such as the office, schools, universities, and online friend groups. But you don’t have to take it seriously because you know about your situation, and people who bully you don’t deserve an explanation. You should take immediate action to report such an incident and protect your peace of mind.
How to deal with Online Harassment
If you are going through an online harassment incident, then do not sit back and take it on yourself alone. Instead, stop it and speak against it. If you don’t know how to do it, then here are some effective steps that will help you deal with online harassment.
Don`t Respond
It can be tempting to clap back and offer some explanation, but it won’t help. Things will become worse. The best thing you can do is not to give them the show; stay indifferent. Trolls love the reactions, and if you stay silent and avoid responding to them, they feel ineffectual and discouraged.
If Need Speak Facts
It is better to avoid vexations at the very start but if it is necessary then you can respond to the attackers only using the facts and figures. The aim is to correct them and make them realize that they are not right. If they still persist then you should avoid responding to them and keep up your head.
Tell them that's enough
You can tell the person to stop doing it with you and you need to stop because this behavior is not acceptable. If the person you are dealing with is not a jerk he may take this and refrain from doing it again with you. Well this is just a try you should give a hand! It may save you from bigger troubles down the lines.
Block Them
If you are receiving online threats through social media or messaging apps, then the first thing you can do is to block them. Every messaging app and social media platform has a block button. You can use this button effectively to cut them off and slam the door shut on their face. They will no longer be able to reach you and harass you.
Take Screenshots
Collect as much information as possible about your online attackers. You must save the messages, posts, and take screenshots of mean comments they make on your posts and stories. You can cite these proofs to lodge a case against the harassers and teach them a lesson so that they don’t dare to do the same thing with you or anyone else from next time onwards.
Speak to Someone You Trust
You should share the experience with someone you trust and who cares about you. You can involve your parents, teacher, or best friend. They can help you handle the difficult situation and directly meet the person and reprimand them. Also, it gives mental comfort when you blurt out your feelings full of hatred.
Report the Incident
Online platforms, including social media apps, public forms, and messaging apps, provide you with the option to report the harassment and harmful communications as inappropriate, bad behavior, and online harassment. You can mark them accordingly, and the internet police will investigate the incident and take appropriate actions to stop them from behaving in such a way with others.
Protect Yourself Before It Happens
Online harassment is widespread. It can come from any direction. The attackers are waiting for the opportunity to take charge of you and shower you with mean comments, derision, abuses, and derogation. You can prevent it if you take timely action and secure your online accounts and apps by making them safer and restricted. In this process, you should keep your accounts private, allow only friends and family members whom you know in real life to take part in your virtual life, and always think before you post something.
Secure Your Online Accounts
Use strong passwords and multifactor authentication services to protect your accounts from unauthorized access. Do not share your account credentials with anyone or open them on unknown devices to keep them secure. It helps you stop online harassment and keep the malicious actors from exploiting your vulnerabilities through online channels.
Contact Police If You Feel Threatened
If you are feeling threatened and afraid for your personal security then you should contact the nearest police officials. Report the incident to the concerning officials and ask them to give you special cover and find the real culprit behind the harassment.
Special Case of Teens
If you are parents and it is you children who are going through the trouble then they won’t speak any of it due to various reasons. Sometimes they feel awkward, shy or afraid that you take away their access to digital devices and internet browsing. But you can know about it by observing some signs that may include they will avoid social interactions most of the time, look upset and angry after using the internet, feel disturbed in the nights, have headaches and stomach pain. If you see these symptoms then don’t neglect them. Talk to and help them deal with these situations.
Final Words
If someone is being mean to you online, it’s not your fault. And you don’t have to deal with it alone. Think of it this way: You wouldn’t let someone follow you around yelling in your ear in real life, right? The same rules should apply online. Stick with people who treat you right, keep your digital space clean, and speak up when something feels wrong.
