Why you might be subject of online abuse
High-risk individuals may be subject to online abuse including harassment and intimidation for reasons including:
- To provoke a reaction or cause distress.
- Disagreement with your views or actions, prompting a backlash or criticism.
- Attempts to silence or intimidate you by threats of violence, cyberbullying or online stalking.
- Your success or prominence evoking jealousy or resentment leading to derogatory remarks or attempts to damage your character or reputation.
- Becoming a target of online abuse based on misinformation, stereotypes, or prejudices.
- You are subjected to online abuse as a form of retaliation or revenge, especially if involved in controversial or contentious issues.
- Online threats or intimidation are conducted or sponsored by state-backed actors.
Online anonymity can embolden individuals to engage in abusive behaviour that they may not exhibit in face-to-face interactions. The distance and perceived anonymity of the internet can lead to increased levels of aggression or hostility. Abuse can have serious consequences, including psychological harm, reputational damage, and threats to personal safety.
What you should do if you are subject to online abuse
If online abuse is happening to you:
- Do not reply to any abusive messages.
- Document abuse and keep offensive emails, messages and posts as evidence.
- Block the abuser's social media, email and instant messaging accounts, as appropriate.
- Report the abuser to your internet service provider (ISP), mobile phone provider and/or the social media site as applicable.
- Report serious abuse, such as threats of physical harm or persistent harassment, to the police.
- If you receive threats or intimidation from individuals or groups associated with extremist ideologies or terrorist organisations, it is important to report this information to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline immediately on 0800 789 321.
- Revisit the security of your devices (see Plan Ahead and Protect Information About You).
In the UK, there is criminal legislation related to online abuse, harassment, stalking and threatening behaviour, it can be invoked to stop this type of behaviour.
Further information about online abuse can be obtained from websites including Get Safe Online, Suzy Lamplugh Trust and practical advice for handling online abuse can be obtained from the Local Government Association.
When to call the police
Call the police via 999, if any of the following factors are present:
- There is the threat of imminent violence.
- If someone seems set on a certain course of action or is making a very specific type of threat or reference to a plan.
- If you become aware that the individual has access to weapons or has weapons skills.
- If the person releases personal information about you not already in the public domain.