Cyber bullying

Socialphy.com wants all users to feel safe and comfortable surfing the site. That is why Socialphy is taking a stand against cyber bullying. If you feel you have been a victim of cyber bullying, or have witnessed it in some form on the site, please take the time to report it here: socialphyhelp.com. Read the information below to learn a little more about cyber bullying.

What is cyber bullying?

Cyber bullying is "the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others#" Information technologies can include things like computers, laptops, cellular phones, smart phones, etc.

Cyber bullying can include many different types of actions. Here are some examples of what cyber bullying can include:

  • To continue to send e-mails or messages to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender.
  • To make threats against another person
  • To make sexual remarks/comments
  • To direct hateful speech/language at another person
  • When several people ganging up on one person with the intent to do harm, emotionally or otherwise
  • To publicly humiliate someone
  • To post false information or statements about someone and claim that they are true
  • To disclose personal information about another person without their consent (ie personal photographs, telephone numbers, Facebook account, email, etc.)

What makes cyber bullying different than traditional bullying?

  • Anonymity - The anonymous nature of cyber bullying is part of what sets it apart from traditional bullying. It can make it much more difficult to battle because it is difficult to identify the people involved. Some bullies might use fake accounts (ie. email, instant messaging, Facebook) so that their target will never know how to report exactly who is responsible for the bullying. Anonymity also makes some bullies take things further and act in ways that they normally wouldn’t. Without anyone expecting them to take responsibility for their actions, they are not bound to the usual social restrictions.
  • Reporting/Monitoring - Reporting cyber bullying is one of the most important ways to fight against it. Online communities aren’t policed and monitored like a school, so this type of bullying can go unnoticed unless it is reported. It also might not be outwardly apparent when a person is being bullied.
  • Audience - The number of people reached over the Internet is much greater than other means of communication. Therefore, if a cyber-bully uploads a hurtful post on the Internet about someone, it could be viewed by millions of people before the victim even realizes that it has been posted.

What should I do if I encounter cyber bullying on Socialphy?

If you encounter cyber bullying on the site you should report it to the Socialphy Help Desk. If the bullying occurs in a post, a topic, or a comment, it will be deleted and the user will be suspended.

What will happen to a user who cyber bullies another user?

A user who has been cyber bullying another user can be temporarily suspended from using Socialphy. If the user does it again, the account could be suspended indefinitely and the user will no longer have access to the site.

How can I tell if a user is a cyber-bully?

It is important to make a distinction between cyber bullying and other comments that might upset someone or bother them. Cyber bullying occurs one a person has been particularly singled out for ridicule. If a disagreement or debate occurs over a topic or a post on Socialphy, it may not be a case of cyber bullying, but if one of the users begins to launch a personal attack on the other user, with personal messages, posts about that person, etc., that may be a case of cyber bullying. If you have any doubts about a situation, you can always consult one of Socialphy’s moderators by reporting the content.