Am I a cyberbullying victim? How can I protect myself?

Article by Alexandra Pambouka – Project Manager at Center for Social Innovation (CSI) I www.csicy.com

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you, especially online. If you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you instead of with you, then the joke has gone too far. If it continues even after you’ve asked the person to stop and you are still feeling upset about it, then this could be bullying. And when the bullying takes place online, it can result in unwanted attention from a wide range of people including strangers. Wherever it may happen, you should not have to stand for it. Ιf you feel bad and it doesn’t stop, then it’s worth getting help. Stopping cyberbullying is not just about calling out bullies, it’s also about recognizing that everyone deserves respect – online and in real life.

Firstly, remember that bad things happen to good people, cyberbullying (shaming) doesn’t define who we are and it’s OK to take a break from social media. Of course, it’s important to learn how to protect yourself from cyberbullying since there is no specific EU law on cyberbullying though some aspects are covered, for instance expressions of racism or xenophobia or sexual harassment of a victim under 18. One problem with cyberbullying is that information remains online for a long time and can be difficult to remove. New EU data protection rules introduced a ‘right to be forgotten’ that allows victims to request the erasure of their personal data. Europe is also funding action on the ground to prevent violence against women, children and young people (including online).

Here are 8 tips that could help to protect yourself from cyberbullying:

  1. Do not respond to the troll:

-Do not act under the influence of fear.

-Don’t forward cyberbullying messages.

– Don’t seek revenge.

  1. Always save the evidence against the bully:

-Record the dates, times, and descriptions of instances when cyberbullying has occurred. Save and print screen-shots, emails, and text messages. Use this evidence to report cyberbullying to web and cell phone service providers.

  1. Ask for help from someone you trust.

  2. Ask the bully to stop.

  3. Use technological tools to stop getting harassed:

-All apps and social media platforms allow the person to have an option to block the person that you find intimidating in any manner.

  1. Password protect all your information:

-Enable two-step verification on your apps.

-Use strong passwords and change them frequently.

  1. Be safe in the interaction and usage of social media:

-Configure privacy settings for social networks.

  1. Understand the legal rights against cyberbullying:

-If you fear for your safety, notify the authorities.

It’s important to protect yourself and at the same time protect the others. Anything you post can become part of your online reputation and your online brand for the rest of your digital life.Remember the Internet is permanent, vast and always listening. Any one of your selfies could show up at your first job interview.

So before you post, ask yourself:

  • Could this hurt others?
  • Would I share this with my parents?
  • Could this endanger opportunities for my future?

If you wish to get a reflection on your social media behaviour, take this Microsoft’s quiz to find out “What social media cliché are you?” and get more tips based on your answers: https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE1IMIK