Definition

Unsolicited repeated behavior against another person, usually with the intent to intimidate or cause emotional distress. Online harassment may take the form of one abuser targeting a person or group with sustained negative contact, or it may take the form of many distinct individuals targeting an individual or group.

Related Terms

Cyberbullying, Cyberstalking, Dogpiling, Brigading, Trolling, Abuse.

Background

Harassment is repeated behaviour, and may include several other harms used repeatedly to harass or initimidate a user. In general, harassment includes the following:

• Willful – The behavior has to be deliberate, not accidental.
• Repeated – Bullying reflects a pattern of behavior, not just one isolated incident.
• Harmful – The target must perceive that harm was inflicted.
• Using computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices – This differentiates cyberbullying from offline bullying

Concerned trolling involves individuals posing as supporters or fans, offering damaging critiques under the guise of helpful feedback. Instead of engaging, muting such content might be more effective to avoid unnecessary confrontation.

Cyberstalking includes persistent online behaviors meant to threaten, terrorize, or surveil someone. It’s a criminal offense in many places, prompting victims to consider legal actions such as contacting law enforcement or securing online privacy if identity theft is suspected.

Cyberbullying encompasses various forms of harassment. Resources and further information can be found on cyberbullying.org, which offer up-to-date insights on handling such issues.

Cyber-mob violence, or dogpiling, involves large groups targeting individuals with torrents of abuse, often for their political views. Tactics to manage such situations include enlisting others to monitor the abuse, temporarily stepping back from social media, or initiating a counter-speech campaign to maintain control over the narrative.

Why We Care

Harassment creates a hostile and unsafe environment for its targets and for the wider community. It can lead to severe psychological distress, anxiety, fear, and can silence individuals, forcing them to withdraw from online participation. Allowing harassment to persist normalises abusive behaviour and can make the community unattractive and dangerous for both existing and potential members.

A strong stance against online harassment is vital for fostering a respectful community where accounts feel safe to express themselves and interact without fear of targeted abuse.

Spotting Online Harassment: What to Look For

Identification of online harassment typically involves observing a pattern of unwanted, negative behaviour directed at a specific target, or a mass of such behaviour from multiple accounts.

Account Traits:

• Single Abuser: An account repeatedly sending abusive messages, @mentioning a target with insults, or consistently derailing their posts with negative commentary.
• Multiple Abusers (Dogpiling): Numerous accounts (which may or may not appear coordinated initially) suddenly directing similar negative, insulting, or threatening comments towards a single target or group. These might be a mix of established, new, or anonymous accounts.

Content Characteristics: Look for language that is insulting, demeaning, threatening, intimidating, or excessively aggressive. Content might include personal attacks, persistent mockery, offensive memes or images directed at the target, spreading of malicious rumours, or repeated unwelcome sexual advances. The key is that it is unsolicited and repeated, or part of a mass attack.

Posting Patterns:

• Sustained Contact: A single harasser might repeatedly reply to a target’s posts with abuse, @mention them in abusive contexts, or send them unwanted direct messages.
• Swarming/Dogpiling: A target’s post or profile might suddenly be flooded with negative replies or quote-posts from many different accounts in a short period.
• Campaigning: Harassers might create posts specifically to denigrate or call for negative attention towards the target.

Behaviour: The core of harassment is the repeated nature of the unwanted negative conduct from one or more persons, and the impact it has on the target (intimidation, distress). Harassers often ignore requests to stop, and may escalate their behaviour if confronted. In cases of dogpiling, while individual harassers might claim their single post isn’t “repeated,” the collective effect on the target is one of overwhelming, repeated abuse.

Key Questions for Assessment:

• “Is an individual or group receiving repeated, unwelcome negative attention or abusive comments from one or more accounts?”
• “Does the behaviour appear intended to intimidate, distress, humiliate, or silence the target?”
• “Has the target indicated that the contact is unwanted or asked for it to stop (if from a single persistent source)?”
• “In the case of multiple accounts, is the collective impact on the target one of sustained, overwhelming negativity or abuse?”
• “Does the conduct serve any legitimate purpose in the context of a reasonable discussion?”

Before You Act: Common Pitfalls & Nuances

It’s important to distinguish harassment from legitimate criticism, disagreement, or isolated incidents of rudeness.

Disagreement vs. Harassment: Robust debate and disagreement are normal. Harassment occurs when it crosses into personal attacks, repeated targeting, intimidation, or becomes a campaign of abuse rather than a discussion of ideas.

Isolated Rudeness: A single rude comment, while unwelcome, may not constitute harassment unless it’s part of a pattern or exceptionally severe.

Reporting in Bad Faith: Occasionally, individuals may report legitimate criticism as harassment if they dislike being challenged. Assess the context carefully.

“Reasonable Person” Standard: Consider whether a reasonable person, in the target’s position, would feel harassed or intimidated by the conduct.

Common Gotchas:

• Waiting too long to intervene, allowing harassment to escalate.
• Focusing only on individual harassing posts rather than the cumulative pattern and impact.
• Not taking into account the power dynamics if a more influential account is harassing a less influential one.
• Dismissing “low level” but persistent harassment that cumulatively causes significant distress.

Key Point: Harassment is about the pattern of unwelcome, repeated behaviour aimed at causing distress or intimidation, or an overwhelming volume of such behaviour from multiple sources. The intent of the abuser(s) and the impact on the victim are both important considerations.

Managing Suspected Online Harassment: Key Steps

When online harassment is reported or observed:

• Prioritise the Target’s Safety and Well-being: Offer support and reassurance. Ask them what actions they would find helpful (e.g., blocking abusers, making a report).
• Investigate Promptly: Review the reported posts, direct messages, and the interaction history to understand the pattern and context.
• Document Evidence: Take screenshots and save links to harassing content. Make a note of the accounts involved.
• Assess the Pattern and Severity: Is this a single persistent harasser or a dogpile? How severe is the abuse? Is it ongoing?
• Discuss with Team (if applicable): Share findings with fellow moderators or your service administrator, especially in complex cases or dogpiles.
• Apply Community Guidance / Sanctions:
  • For the Harasser(s): Depending on severity and policy: issue warnings, remove harassing content, enforce temporary mutes/suspensions, or implement permanent bans for persistent or severe harassment. In dogpiles, action might be needed against multiple accounts.
  • For the Target: Advise them on blocking features, how to report to instance admins, and potentially on making their account more private if they wish.
• Follow Up (if appropriate): Check in with the target after taking action, if they are comfortable with this.

Example Community Guidance

Strike System: “Single instances of rudeness may receive a warning. However, repeated abusive comments or clear participation in harassment or dogpiling will lead to stricter sanctions, including suspension or permanent bans.”

General Prohibition: “Engaging in online harassment is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, making personal attacks, sending repeated unwelcome messages, threatening or intimidating others, inciting others to harass an individual (dogpiling), or any behaviour that creates a hostile environment for another member.”

Strict Enforcement: “Accounts found to be engaging in persistent harassment, severe single instances of abuse, or participating in coordinated harassment (dogpiling) will be subject to immediate sanctions, up to and including permanent bans. We are committed to maintaining a community where users feel safe from targeted abuse.”