STOP CYBERBULLYING AND

HARASSMENT

What is Cyberbullying?Cyberbullying involves the use of the internet or technological devices to send, post text or images intended to hurt, embarrass, discriminate, threaten, torment, humiliate or intimidate an individual or a group of people.

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:• Social Media such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.• SMS (Short Message Service), also known as Text Message, sent through devices.• Instant Messages via devices, email provider services, apps and social media messaging features

Cyber bullying behavior includes:• Sending sexist, derogatory, racist and homophobic messages • Sending unwanted messages• Overaggressive, harmful language that can defame, threaten, harass, bully, exclude, discriminate and • demean the recipient• Intimidating and threatening messages• Disclosing personal information about another person/group without their permission• Posting or circulating an embarrassing video of someone Pretending to be someone else on-line• Sharing unwanted pictures such as nudes• Online stalking• Unwanted sexting• Exposing the identity of an LGBTIAQ+ person online (someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, queer or any other sexual orientation and gender identity)

Victims and PerpetratorsAnyone can be a victim or perpetrator of cyberbullying, irrespective of their race, language, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, class, position, ability or disability, etc.

Victims of cyberbullying may experience the following:• Lowered self-esteem• Mental health challenges• Increased suicidal ideation• Variety of negative emotional responses including being scared, frustrated, angry, or depressed• Lack of job satisfaction and possible resignation if the perpetrator is a colleague• Poor academic performance• Feeling unsafe in their environment• Discrimination when an LGBTIAQ+ person’s identity is exposed, that can also culminate in a hate crime

Cyberbullying has unique concerns in that it can be:Persistent – Digital devices offer an ability to immediately and continuously communicate 24 hours a day, so it can be difficult for person/victim experiencing cyberbullying to find relief.

Permanent – Most information communicated electronically is permanent and public if not reported and removed. A negative online reputation, including for those who bully, can impact employment, and other areas of life.

Hard to notice – People may not overhear or see cyberbullying taking place, it is harder to recognise.

Interventions for dealing with Cyberbullying• Mediation through the Wits Transformation and Employment Equity Office• Lodging a grievance• Disciplinary hearing• Reporting to the Police• Applying for a restraining order• LGBTAIQ+ members of the university community can report cyberbullying to a Safe Zones@Wits ally

What to do if you experience online bullying• Tell the person that the behavior is unwelcome. • Tell someone - As with any type of bullying, it is so important that you don’t suffer in silence and you tell someone about it straight away.• Report the person/group - Cyberbullying is never acceptable and you should report the content (pictures, text, group etc.) to someone you trust and to the social media site. • All social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc., have report abuse buttons, as do most mobile phone networks who have teams to deal with abuse. • Block the person/group - Most social media sites will give you the option to block and report the person/group cyberbullying you. When you block someone it usually means that the person/group will no longer be able to contact you or see any of your content. • Save the evidence - It is really important that you save or copy any of the cyberbullying such as texts or conversations you receive so you have evidence of the cyberbullying and can show it to the relevant authorities.• Don’t reply or answer back - It may be very tempting to reply to the person or group but don’t become a cyberbully yourself.

For confidential reporting, consultation and support, contact the Transformation

and Employment Equity Office:Email: Cecilia.Smith@wits.ac.za

Advocate Neo Mahlako: Neo.Mahlako1@wits.ac.za

The Anti-Discrimination Policy can be accessed on:

www.wits.ac.za/transformationoffice/

STOP CYBERBULLYING AND HARASSMENT