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Step - 4
Practice 

In this step, Learn how to keep yourself safe with tips to protection and safety

  • Learn about the various intervention methods you can use when you witness abuse

  • How to report abuse on different Social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Telegram, Tiktok) 

Best Practices for Allies and Bystanders

You may not have experienced abuse online but you might have a friend, family member or a colleague who has gone through this ordeal. Don't just be a bystander, take action and support them in fighting against the abuser. If you feel compelled to help, and believe you can do so without risk to yourself, bystander intervention is one of the most powerful tools we have to speak out against hate and harassment on the internet and push back against the culture of impunity proliferating in our online communities.

Ally
(noun | al·ly)

One that is associated with another as a helper; a person or group that provides assistance and support

Witness
(noun | wit·ness)

A person who sees something (such as a crime) happen

Bystander
(noun | by·stand·er)

One who is present but not taking part in a situation or event

Your Safety First

Prepare yourself ahead of time so that you can be an ally. Spend some time strengthening your own cybersecurity to guard against doxing, hacking, and impersonation. If you're worried that intervening in someone else's online harassment may put you in danger, read these threat assessment recommendations and follow your intuition. Remember that there are several ways to be a good ally without openly meddling.

Identify the abuse

Understanding what you're experiencing might help you decide how to respond. Is the attacker using racist slurs on Facebook, which should be denounced publicly? Is your favorite blog's comments area being overtaken by a sexist troll, and are you willing to try to divert the conversation? Has someone been doxed, and do they require assistance in evaluating their threat or locating a safe place to stay? Is someone on Twitter making such explicit threats of violence that you feel compelled to notify the authorities in that user's jurisdiction? Determine the type of abuse occurring and read up on identifying online harassment to become acquainted with various approaches.

Consult the Target

Before you directly or publicly intervene in online abuse, consider your connection with the target and prioritize their needs and concerns. The most efficient approach to accomplish this is to contact out and ask them what type of help they'd want.
If the individual being abused is willing to communicate with you, begin by listening and asking how you may assist. Some individuals may be overwhelmed and unsure how you can assist them; in this instance, you might provide them a list of alternatives or simply a sympathetic ear.

Hate Speech on Facebook

According to Facebook policy: Hate speech is a direct attack against people – rather than concepts or institutions – on the basis of what we call protected characteristics: race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and serious disease. We define attacks as violent or dehumanising speech, harmful stereotypes, statements of inferiority, expressions of contempt, disgust or dismissal, cursing and calls for exclusion or segregation.

How to Report on Facebook?

How to Report on Twitter?

Report Abuse on Twitter

Twitter strives to provide an environment where people can feel free to express themselves. If abusive behavior happens, we want to make it easy for people to report it to us. Multiple Tweets can be included in the same report, helping us gain better context, while investigating the issues to get them resolved faster.

How to Report on Youtube?

Flag A YouTube Channel

Content that threatens individuals is not allowed on YouTube. We also don't allow content that targets an individual with prolonged or malicious insults based on intrinsic attributes. These attributes include their protected group status or physical traits.

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If you find content that violates this policy, report it.

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Violent or graphic content policies: Read Here 

Report Abuse on Instagram

You can report inappropriate posts, comments or people that aren't following our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use right when you see them by using our built-in reporting features.

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Bear in mind that your report is anonymous, except if you're reporting an intellectual property infringement. The account you reported won't see who reported them.

How to handle negative comments on Social Media?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

If you’re facing or witnessing online abuse and need help, check out our resources. And if online abuse has made you hesitate to use your voice or driven you off a platform—and you feel empowered to share your story with us—click the button below. 

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Talk to please who can help you and build a community around you for support.

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We won’t publish anything without your consent, nor will we share any of your information or anything that could help identify you.

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