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Dealing with stalking and harassment
We wanted to share a post about how to deal with stalking and harassment if you encounter it here on The Mix or off the platform. We're really keen to share more practical tips and information to help everyone stay safe and know what to do if they encounter stalking or harassment.
As our online community spaces grow, and you make friendships, connect with others offline, you may build some lovely connections but we also know it's possible for those not to be so lovely.
What is harassment?
Stalking and harassment is when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel scared, distressed or threatened.
Stalking and harassment are both offenses under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and there are ways to report this to the police if this is happening to you.
Harassment online and offline may include:
(you can read more on the Met police's website)
What you can do
Here are the best things to do if someone is harassing you on The Mix:
Don't feed the trolls
The golden rule is don't respond. Trolls and other online bullies thrive on the attention they get. If you don't respond, usually they end up getting bored and go somewhere else. If you'd like to support a community member, it's better to do that privately via DM.
We know this is difficult. It's natural to want to fight back or defend other community members, but please try to step back once you've reported them so you don't add fuel to the fire. You're also helping moderators by doing this because it means we have less to sort out when we come online.
Here, we can keep you safe
Whatever happens here in The Mix Community, our moderators can look after you.
It's (unfortunately) normal for online communities to get trolls, spammers, and other people who don't follow the guidelines. We've been through this before and it never lasts forever.
If it goes beyond The Mix
If the harassment you're getting happens outside The Mix, it is a crime and there are steps you can take to protect yourself:
Thank you all for reading! Any questions, worries or concerns we're here for you
As our online community spaces grow, and you make friendships, connect with others offline, you may build some lovely connections but we also know it's possible for those not to be so lovely.
What is harassment?
Stalking and harassment is when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel scared, distressed or threatened.
Stalking and harassment are both offenses under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and there are ways to report this to the police if this is happening to you.
Harassment online and offline may include:
- Bullying at school or in the workplace
- Cyber stalking (using the internet to harass someone)
- Antisocial behaviour
- Sending abusive text messages
- Sending unwanted gifts
- Unwanted phone calls, letters, emails or visits
- Spamming and sending viruses online
- Threats to share private information, photographs, copies of messages
(you can read more on the Met police's website)
What you can do
Here are the best things to do if someone is harassing you on The Mix:
- Report the user's posts - this is the fastest way to get our attention
- Use the 'spam' reaction - when a post gets two 'spam' reactions, it's hidden from view until a moderator reviews it, so this is a good way to zap posts yourselves until a mod is online
- Don't DM them - accounts with less than 5 posts can't DM you unless you message them first, so make sure you don't send them any messages
- Talk to us about it - you can message @TheMix or email community@themix.org.uk at any time to tell us about anyone targeting you in any way
Don't feed the trolls
The golden rule is don't respond. Trolls and other online bullies thrive on the attention they get. If you don't respond, usually they end up getting bored and go somewhere else. If you'd like to support a community member, it's better to do that privately via DM.
We know this is difficult. It's natural to want to fight back or defend other community members, but please try to step back once you've reported them so you don't add fuel to the fire. You're also helping moderators by doing this because it means we have less to sort out when we come online.
Here, we can keep you safe
Whatever happens here in The Mix Community, our moderators can look after you.
It's (unfortunately) normal for online communities to get trolls, spammers, and other people who don't follow the guidelines. We've been through this before and it never lasts forever.
If it goes beyond The Mix
If the harassment you're getting happens outside The Mix, it is a crime and there are steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Contact the platform where the harassment is taking place (social media will have support options for you there to manage trolls).
- Report the harassment directly to the police either via their online form, via the phone or in person at your local police station - you can email our Safeguarding team at safeguarding@themix.org.uk if you'd like some support doing this
Thank you all for reading! Any questions, worries or concerns we're here for you
Maybe somethings don't get better, but we do. We get stronger. We learn to live with our situations as messy and ugly as they are. We fix what we can and we adapt to what we can't. Maybe some of us will never fully be okay, but at least we're here. We're still trying. We're doing the best we can. That's worth celebrating too ❤
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