Hub Seven

Cyber Bullying

We have minimized the severity of bullying through its naming. It is hard to see these as real issues, issues not just reserved for kids, mainly because the names themselves sound trivial.

Subject 01

Would You Report It as an Adult?

If it happened at work, we would call it harassment

  • If a coworker sent you cruel messages every day, you would report it to HR or the police.
  • When the same thing happens to a teen, we often call it “just bullying”.
  • The harm is the same. The response should be too.
Subject 02

It’s by Design

We minimized bullying through its naming

  • It is hard to see these as real issues that are not just reserved for kids.
  • This is mainly because the names themselves seem trivial.
  • When something sounds small, victims stay quiet and adults do not step in.
Subject 03

Call It What It Truly Is

Use the real names

  • Bullying = Harassment
  • Cyber bullying = Online harassment
  • Bullying = Blackmail
  • Cyber bullying = Stalking me online

Rename it

  • BullyingHarassment
  • Cyber bullyingOnline harassment
  • BullyingBlackmail
  • Cyber bullyingStalking me online
Subject 04

It’s Harassment

Online stalking, cruelty and the reminder that everyone has hard times

  • It’s harassment.
  • It’s online stalking.
  • Don’t say online what you wouldn’t say in person.
  • Everyone has hard times. You never know what someone is going through.

If it is happening to you

  • Do not respond or retaliate.
  • Screenshot and save everything, including usernames, dates and times.
  • Block and report the account on the platform.
  • Tell a trusted adult. Harassment and threats can be reported to police.
Subject 05

Doxxing

Publishing someone’s private information to target them

  • Doxxing is collecting and posting someone’s personal information (address, school, phone number, family members, workplace) to harass or scare them.
  • The information often comes from things the victim or their friends posted publicly.
  • Once it is posted, strangers can show up in real life.
  • Keep accounts private, remove location tags and report doxxing immediately.
Subject 06

Swatting

A fake emergency call designed to send police to someone’s home

  • Swatting is making a false report of a violent emergency, such as a shooting or hostage situation, at someone’s address.
  • Police respond with urgency, which puts the victim, their family and officers in real danger. People have been killed.
  • It often follows doxxing or arguments in online games.
  • Swatting is a serious crime. It can result in felony charges, prison time and paying the costs of the response.
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