20. CYBERBULLYING

Examines the problem of cyberbullying and provides tips on how to prevent or intervene in a situation of online harassment.

1.1 What is cyberbullying?

It’s a situation in which an abuser voluntarily and repeatedly violates a victim online with a view to humiliating, threatening or harassing them. On participatory platforms, this can manifest in a number of ways such as:

  • Sending unwanted, nasty, threatening or insulting messages
  • Targeting someone by inviting others to make fun of them
  • Pressuring others to exclude the victim from the community
  • Impersonating the victim to issue inappropriate messages that causes others to respond negatively to the victim
  • Sharing the victim’s content without their consent

1.2 How can you prevent cyberbullying on your platform?

Cyberbullying is essentially prevented through moderation. Unacceptable behaviours are set out in the digital code of conduct; your moderation strategy should seek to ensure compliance with the code. You must also be prepared to apply the appropriate sanctions in the event of violations.

Furthermore, you should provide tools that let users notify you if they are bullied on your platform. These include features for blocking users and thus preventing any future contact as well as whistle-blowing mechanisms.

1.3 When cyberbullying is flagged, how should it be handled?

Cyberbullying is a serious issue and reports of bullying must be taken seriously. As a youth platform, you must promote respect for other users and take prompt action in the event of disrespectful behaviour.

Your moderators should establish procedures for responding to reports of bullying based on your digital code of conduct. Consequences that gradually increase in severity ranging from a simple warning to closure of the account must be imposed as needed. Depending on the gravity of the incident, you can also direct the victim to resources offering specialized support.

Each country regulates cyberbullying through differing laws based on the actions of the aggressor. As operator, your role is to punish the offender and direct the victim toward resources. Below is a list of anti-cyberbullying organizations by country:

CANADA

INTERNATIONAL

UNITED STATES

FRANCE

AUSTRALIA

Mobile app stores make no specific mention to cyberbullying in their terms of use.

The question of cyberbullying is covered by existing legislation.

  • Ensure that your digital code of conduct encourages civil behaviour and denounces disrespectful acts toward other users. Specify that repeated violations of the code will entail temporary or permanent suspension of the user’s account.
  • Design your platform in such a way as to give young people a chance to think before acting. For example, use pop-up windows to display messages like “Are you sure you want to share this?”
  • Encourage victims to discuss a bullying situation with their parents.
  • If you have the parent’s email address, you can send them a message outlining the situation and the steps you have taken to manage it. This applies to the parents of both the victim and the aggressor.
  • When you intervene with an aggressor, make sure they understand the following: the nature of the misconduct; how this behaviour violates the digital code of conduct; and the consequences that will ensue if the aggressor repeats the offence. For example:

On our platform, we do not tolerate disrespect toward other users. Your comment “[insert comment]” dated January 1, 2011 addressed to User12 fails to comply with our digital code of conduct [insert link to your code]. This is your first warning. If you display a similar lack of respect toward a user again, your account will be suspended for three days.”

Bibliography.