Online Harassment
Online harassment comes in many different shapes and forms, and in the digital age we live in, it is crucial to be aware of harassers' methods and how to protect yourself if you become a target.
What is Online Harassment & Doxing?
Online Harassment, or better known as cyberbullying, is a form of harassment done primarily through the internet with the intent to target, threaten, or embarrass a victim and their associates.
One of the more dangerous forms of online harassment is doxing. Doxing is when the harasser releases either public or private personal information in an attempt to scare or humiliate the victim.
How to Protect Yourself from Online Harassment
You can keep yourself protected in several ways, and it is essential to know what you can do before harassment begins. It is even more critical to understand how to react whenever you become the target of harassment.
Before Harassment Happens
Review your digital presence on social media
- Never share sensitive personal details such as your home address, work location, or phone number.
- Only accept connection requests from people you know or have a public-only account (for work opportunities and broad connections) and a private account only (for friends, family, and other closer relationships).
- Delete or archive any accounts that are no longer in use.
- Use aliases and/or unique usernames for each social media platform or account
- Maintain a strong and unique password for each account.
- When possible, enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts for additional layers of security
And on other digital mediums
- Using a search tool, search for and uncover publicly posted information about you
- For websites you have control over, modify and remove content that may give out unnecessary information
- If sites you do not control have content about you, submit a request to the host for removal.
- "Opt-out" and "delete" your data being collected and sold by data brokers.
After Harassment Happens
Request to have Content Removed
- You can request a takedown of content that can be considered abuse, threats, or harassment from most social media platforms and online forums, as content of that nature violates Acceptable Use Policy and/or Terms of Service.
- Here are some instructions on reporting content on a few of the major platforms:
- The California Consumer Privacy Act can be utilized in efforts to remove personal data from digital platforms and more.
Submit Removal Requests from UC Merced's Directory
The UC Merced Directory presents basic information such as UCM email addresses and phone numbers for Staff and Faculty to non authenticated viewers, and student UCM email addresses for authenticated viewers. If your UC Merced information and identity is a target of online harassment you may request your information to be removed from the directory.
- For Staff & Faculty
- Coordinated with your chief administrative officer (CAO) to remove your information from the directory.
- For Students
- Submit a Student Record Confidentiality Update request to the Registrar's office. This request can be found on the registrar's Forms and Processing Times webpage under Student Record Requests.
Capture Evidence and Block Harassers
- Capturing evidence of the harassment
- Using your device's built-in tools, gather screenshots of the harassment, such as photos, comments, and other digital content.
- However, you can collect all digital communication with the harasser, such as text messages, emails, and voice messages.
- Get help
- Viewing the digital content can be emotionally taxing and add additional stress on top of the initial stress. Having trusted friends and family assist with the evidence capture or just for emotional support can ease that strain.
- Blocking the harasser(s)
- There is no need to continue viewing the harasser's messages once evidence is gathered. Block them from every source from which you have received harassment. Here are some ways to do so:
- There is no need to continue viewing the harasser's messages once evidence is gathered. Block them from every source from which you have received harassment. Here are some ways to do so:
Report to UC Merced Information Security
UC Merced's Information Security Office can assist in collecting and removing offensive material. To get started with that process, please Report a Cyber Security Incident via the OIT Service Hub.
Report to Law Enforcement
Extreme online harassment, such as doxing, is illegal in the state of California and can be charged as a criminal offense. One solution to deter and stop harassment is to file a report with local authorities, such as the UC Merced Police Department.
Seek Emotional Support and Help
- Harassment is stressful and can profoundly impact the victim's physical and mental well-being, and in extreme cases, the well-being of those around them. Support is available for those dealing with the struggles of harassment.
- On-campus services are available to speak with victims of online targeting, harassment, and/or hate.
