#internet tips

Number 1: Don't share identifying personal information

Why not? When you post about things that could help others spot you in real life, that makes you vulnerable to hateful people. There is a thing called doxxing, which is when people leak information about you, like the place where you live or your phone number. This can lead to problems like people harrassing you, telling your secrets to people you know in real life (ie. If you're gay and closeted but someone finds out your school's number and tells all of your teachers), or even finding you to cause you harm in real life. Doxxing is made easier when there is a lot of identifying information about you online. (Key word: Identifying. Telling everyone your favorite fruit or autism diagnosis doesn't exactly have the same safety risk. Just be selective with what you let other people know by making it publicly available like on a bio or Tumblr post; you never know who is reading it and what their intentions are.)

Examples of identifying personal information: Real name, especially if it's your full name, your location (not just your address, but the city or state you live in), your passwords (you may already know that, but they're meant to be private or else someone else can log in or steal your account!), the real names of people you know in real life, what school you study in, etc. Also includes pictures of stuff like your face or faces or people you know irl, of your house, of the places you live in and attend (like school!) and so on.

First name only or age, specifically, might not be very important to avoid telling (the choice is yours, of course, act as you see fit), but you don't need to tell anybody your real ones if you don't want to. You can lie about your age, it's not wrong. This is just the internet, there's no penalty for it, and it can even make you safer (there are people who actively seek out younger people and children/teens to harrass them, for example). Similarly, you can go by whatever name you want, even if it's your real-life one, but you can also choose a pseudonym (a fake name) that people can call you by online. Again: it is not wrong. That's your personal information and unless you want someone else to know, it's nobody's business. If people demand you to tell them about these regardless of wether you want it or not, they are violating your boundaries and they're the one who's in the wrong.

Here are two articles about what I'm talking about if you want to know more (Knowledge is power! Try giving them a read when you have the time, I think they are quite informative):

Number 2: Don't click on strange links

Why not? Hackers or scammers, people wanting to steal your account, personal information or money, might send you links that lead to sketchy sites. In some cases, just from making you click on a link, someone can get your phone/laptop/tablet to download a virus or spyware (apps that spy your device, and can do things like discover your passwords - even ones to things like bank accounts!), or do a handful of other harmful things.

Examples: People sending you messages about prizes you won, saying that if you click on the link they are sending you will gain money, or robux, or anything in that vein.

Here is an article about that too if you want to learn more:

Number 3: Keep an eye out for scams

Why? Online scams are schemes of malicious people that want to trick you so they can steal your stuff or money. They often make you click on strange links (as mentioned above) for this or invent a reason that you need to send them money for, like pretending to be someone you know. Someone might be able to do that, for example, if they have access to your personal information, like the names of your mom or siblings.

Examples: There are many types of scams, and in general, just be skeptical of anyone trying to make you/convince you to either (1) click on links, (2) buy something (it might be a fake product, as in, they're not actually going to deliver it), (3) sign up for a subscription (they might be legitimate sites like Netflix and Spotify, or something more sketchy and dangerous that you should avoid; always search it up before even considering to pay for it), (4) directly send them money, even if it's someone you know; try to check in with your friend/relative to see if that is really them. But some more specific examples of common scams on Tumblr are:

1. The "Hi, do you sell commissions?" scam - This may look harmless at first, but don't be fooled. These scams look like someone contacting you by making a comment on one of your posts (usually your art), sending you a DM ("Direct Message", it's how you text people here on Tumblr) or an Ask in your Inbox, in order to say something like "Wow! Your art is so cool! I would like to purchase it", "Are you open for commissions?" or "I am interested in paying you to make a drawing for me". Commissions are a legitimate way for artists to sell custom-made drawings in exchange for money, but if you never mentioned that it's a thing you already do, and this person just came out of nowhere, they are probably wanting to scam you.

Here is one example, they are very very common:

Here is a post talking more about these types of "commission" scams and how they work.

2. The "I accidentally reported your account" scam - These scams' goal are usually to make you click on a link ("if you don't click on this, Tumblr will delete your blog! It's true! Click on it urgently!" or something like that) that will hack your account so they can steal it. They work by contacting you, either by Ask or by DM (direct message), but if they can't (for example, if you've disabled your DMs for people you don't know or if you set your blog so people can't send you asks) they may try to contact you by comments, like this:

They will tell you that they accidentally reported your account, and that because of that Tumblr will delete it. (Some of them also pretend that they are an official Tumblr account; don't trust anyone who says they are Tumblr and tries to contact you like that, it's a scam.) Don't trust them; that's a lie. They will give you instructions to "prevent your account from being terminated" that involves, you guessed it, strange links and sketchy sites and hacking your account.

Here is a post talking more about these types of "i have something to tell you about your account"/"i accidentally reported you" scams.

3. Ads that pop up while you're scrolling on Tumblr itself - They are just generally suspicious, ignore them. Tumblr lets anything advertise its stuff here, get an adblocker if you can, just scroll by if you can't. Just please don't click on them. They can lead you to suspicious sites or try to sell you weird stuff, and also count as "strange links". I have seen sketchy gambling sites being advertised here, for example.

When you come across any of these, or anything you suspect might be a scam (you might get better at identifying them with time!): block whoever is sending the message, don't click on whatever it is. If you are not sure something is a scam, try asking someone to get a second opinion ("hey, someone sent me this and it seems suspicious, do you think it's a scam?") or copy-pasting the text of the message/Ask/comment and putting it on either Google's or Tumblr's search bar; many of these use identical text and if you search for them word-for-word, you'll often find someone saying the exact same thing to someone else (because it's the same scam) or someone saying, "hey, someone tried to send me this, but be careful and block them because it's a scam".

Here is a section in Tumblr's website (help.tumblr.com) informing about some of these common scams!

Number 4: Keep an eye out for grooming

Why? "Grooming" is when someone tries to build a relationship with you to make you trust them then make you do something sexual or illegal. This is a form of abuse, and it can be very traumatizing if you get caught in this kind of situation, so it's always good to try and watch out for it. Reminder: It can happen to anyone, and you're not stupid, weak or naive if you are/were a victim/survivor of grooming. It's not a secret that it can be very, very hard to recognize when you are being abused, even if you are a very smart person.

(trigger warning for mentions of sexual themes and sexual abuse for this one; if you are sensitive to this kind of topic, skip to tip number five.)

Some signs of grooming:

They (the groomer) may pose themselves as your friend; someone nice that you can trust. Most abusers don't look like abusers. Not every friendly person is a groomer, mind you, but this does mean that it's not just because they act "nice" that they don't want to harm you.

They may try to isolate you from other friends, maybe by saying things like "I'm the only one who understands you". If you have a support network (friends and family you can trust and that want to see you safe and happy), they may be able to clock that the groomer is trying to harm you and stop the grooming from happening

They try to pressure you or convince you into "keeping it secret" (again, because someone might recognize what they're doing and tell you that)

They ask you things about your genitals, talk to you about theirs or try to get you to talk about sexual things

They ask to see your body or send you pictures about their own; "nudes" or things that are suggestive

They send you porn

They say that you are "very mature for your age" so it doesn't matter that they're an adult and you're a child (that if they don't pretend that they're your age too)

Here is an article saying more about it:

Also, if you were groomed/suspect you are being groomed, please remember that it's not your fault. You should try to make yourself safe, but if you didn't know how, or if what you tried to protect yourself from this didn't work, it's not a failure on your part. It is the fault of who groomed you. There is no shame in it, and you're not stupid if it happened to you, either: Manipulation and abuse are not always easy to clock and flee from. You deserve support for what you went through and it's normal to feel traumatized or upset by it, even if someone says that it was your fault because of something that you did or didn't do, that they made you do, or whatever else. It is also not your fault if you knew something sketchy was happening or suspect it still does, but for one reason or another decided to stay. It was still them who kept grooming you. No matter what you did/do regarding it, how you may have participated on it, none of it was your fault, absolutely none, and you are not alone.

As a last disclaimer about this one: Some online guides for "how to spot signs of grooming" will list "being overly nice" as one of the red flags; but remember, there are a lot of people that genuinely are nice and want to be friends with you, and not all of them are out to get you. That's not the only "red flag" you should look for, but the other signs; most people who are nice to you don't have any sort of inner motive.

Oh, and one more thing: It's very, very normal to be interested in sex, porn or sexual things at any age - yes, even if you are under 18 and not an adult yet. It's okay to be curious, it's okay to want to know more about it or explore it. The problem with grooming is that someone wants to use you to satisfy their own sexual wants by being in an abusive sexual relationship with you. But if you want to, you also have the right to explore your own sexuality: One of the safest ways to do that is in private. If you want to masturbate, for example, learn how to do it safely (wash your hands before they touch your genitals, and be careful if you want to insert objects in your vagina or anus! If they are dirty, you could get very sick, and some materials are dangerous - for example, glass that can break, or porous materials that get dirty in places that are hard to clean); explore what you like and what you don't, get to know your body, and don't feel pressured to do anything you're not sure of. If you want to explore the sexy side of the internet, do so anonymously! Back away if anything is too much for you (for example, you wanted to see a porn video but when you click on it you find it gross and it makes you feel bad), you have to put your own comfort first. It's okay to not be sure of things. If you want to do sex with another person, make sure that you're doing it safely, and that it's someone you trust; never trust anyone who keeps trying to make you do it even after you say you don't want to or are not sure, or keeps pressuring you to change your mind. If you want to do it with another person, always remember that the both (or more!) of you need to want it, and that if you change your mind halfway through you should always stop. Always be wary of people who are way older than you (especially if they are an adult and you're not) and are sexually interested in you. Try to leave the situation and tell a trusted person, if you can.

Even if it's not grooming specifically - if someone, online or in real life, keeps sending you sexual things, talking to you about sexual things or trying to make you send/do sexual things to them, even though you didn't say you were okay with it prior to them doing these things, this is also sexual harrassment, and it is not okay. You deserve your boundaries respected. If you notice someone is sexually harrassing you, it is advisable to block them or leave the situation if you can.

Number 5: Block liberally (freely and with no remorse)

Why? There are a lot of bigoted, cruel and hateful people in the world, and in the internet that's no exception. Someone may be racist/misoginistic/ableist/queerphobic to you, they may send you hate mail and say things like "you should kill yourself". That's not okay: however, you unfortunately can't change their behavior. But you also don't need to tolerate them. What you can do, though, is block them. When you block a blog, they can't talk to you or interact with you or send you anything, and their posts don't show up to you either. Remember: This is your blog, your safe space. You have the right to keep away people who are causing you harm.

This applies not only to bigoted people, but also to anyone you don't want to interact with! Maybe someone posts fanart for a fandom you dislike, even if they are not a bad person. If you want to block them, you can. If you want to block someone that keeps posting a lot of things you don't wanna see on a tag you follow, you can. They don't need to be mean to you, they don't even need to be bad people. You can block whoever you want, always.

If there's someone who's harrassing you, or if there's someone whom you feel off about, even though you are not sure they'd do you harm; you don't have to wait for them to do something bad. You can block them.

If your reason for blocking someone is that their blog keeps being recommended to you but you just aren't interested in their posts, you can block them too! There's nothing wrong about it; you have the right to curate your online experience, to surround yourself with things and people you want there. If someone blocks you, too, that's also okay: it doesn't mean they hate you, or even find you annoying, it just means they are curating their space too.

Number 6: Don't feed the trolls

Why? "Feeding the trolls" is an expression very widely known online; a "troll" is a person who keeps upsetting people online and saying things to hurt them on purpose. They harrass others, they are hateful and they much prefer causing harm and anger on other people than on doing their thing and having fun by themselves. What they seek is to grab your attention, and if they know they upset you with their bullshit, they'll continue. I know it's hard (it's hard for me, too), but you shouldn't interact with them. Don't answer, don't give them attention. This is where the block button also proves useful. If you're in a community with a moderator, report the hateful person to the mod and let them deal with it. You don't deserve to be upset by them.

Now, that said, you still have a right to defend yourself. If someone comes to your Inbox calling you slurs and saying you should die, it can hurt. It's okay if you want to defend yourself; it's okay if you don't just silently take it. Sometimes, there are injustices in our online spaces we need to speak up against, but still, it's very important to not get too caught up in these kinds of internet arguments, because they are detrimental to your wellbeing and your mental health. Sometimes, you can't win the discussion. You can't always convince someone not to hate you. You need to prioritize yourself, step away, block, and do things that make you happy.

This is meant to be your safe space. You have the right to stand up for yourself, yes, but those people are very good at making you hurt and angry, and if you interact with them, they may keep doing that to you. It's hard to resist, but you may also need to remove them from your space and continue your life. You are here to have fun, to make friends, to find joy. Don't let them ruin that for you.

Number 7: Curate your online experience

Why? Similar to the previous point! You are here to have fun! The internet - Tumblr, too - is very large. There will be stuff here you don't care about, stuff that you don't like, stuff that makes you upset. You don't have to see them. Your blog, your rules; filtering what actually stays here, in your space, is the secret to having an enjoyable internet experience.

Ways of doing that: Use the block button, as mentioned above, avoid people who just want to do you harm. But also, follow people you find cool or post things you like! Reblog things you find nice so you can keep them on your own blog, seek out people who are in your fandoms and things that are relevant to your interests, have fun :)

And also: there are many ways to avoid upsetting things! When people post writing or fanfic or stories, the common thing to do is to add content warnings (we shorten them to "cws", or sometimes "tws", standing for "trigger warning") at the top. That way, you can check them and decide if you want to read it or not. Maybe you think a fic sounds interesting, but you are triggered or upset when, say, a character dies. You can check the cws/tws to see if the author added "cw: character death", and if they don't, you know you are in the clear. An author's responsability is to (usually) try and warn their audience of things like that, and a reader's responsability is to read these warnings and decide for themselves if they want to continue reading.

You can also use tag filtering and content filtering. By blocking a certain tag (ie. "#character death" or "#gore") or a word (ie. "suicide" or a slur) you can make it so Tumblr will cover the post with a warning and you won't have to see it!

^ like this! You can still click to view them, but it can spare you from a lot of content you don't want to see.

There is also a thing called "DNI lists" - "dni" stands for "do not interact". Some users will put in their blogs, for example, something like "dni racists and people older than 30" in their pinned posts or their bio, warning others that they don't want to interact with the people that fit the criteria they are describing. Someone may put on a dni for various reasons: maybe they are queer and don't want homophobes/transphobes following them, maybe they're in the Percy Jackson fandom and their preferred ship is Piper X Jason, and they don't want to interact with anyone who ships Piper X Annabeth for example, just because. It could be anything. You have the right to do whatever you want to your blog, but I wanted to give a heads up that DNIs are not nearly as effective as blocking people you don't want to interact with. If someone hates fat people, and you put 'dni fatphobes' on your bio, what seems more likely, that they will respect you and back away or that they will continue to be hateful regardless of what you want? So DNIs are not very useful, most of the time. Try to not rely just on them and seek to take other steps to curate your online experience.

Number 8: Beware of misinformation

Why? Just remember: this is the internet. Anyone can say whatever they want. If someone posts something like "oh no! Donald Trump was assassinated by a murderous gay person!" you have to take a step back and search it up to see if any of that is true. Maybe they are sharing medical advice that doesn't work. Maybe they are sharing fake news.

It's especially important to be aware of false information nowadays, with the rise of generative artificial intelligence (genAI, or just "AI"). Videos and audios and images that aren't real can get generated by anyone, and it can be very hard to say if something is true or not. If someone makes a claim, check for sources. Do some research in trusted scientific magazines or newsfeeds to verify it, and always remember to be critical. You may get fooled a couple times, that can't be helped. To err is to be human! That's okay, there's no shame in it. I have believed in many wrong things in the past myself. What's important is to always be open to hearing people who disagree with you, who offer another perspective; they may teach you something you didn't know, or correct something you thought was true but wasn't! That's how you develop your critical sense, which will help you make even better decisions in the future.

Number 9: Consider privating your DMs (Direct Messages) and turning off anonymous Asks

Why? There are a lot of bad actors out there, and creeps or bots can send you direct messages and contact you more easily, which can be both unnerving and annoying. If you go to your Blog Settings (or Blog Settings > Chat, on mobile) and scroll down, you can activate the "Only allow for people whom I already follow to message me" option. That way, only people you've already decided to follow can start a conversation with you. This avoids random blogs that may be spam accounts, trolls or porn bots from coming to your messages and bothering you.

Turning off anonymous Asks would have a similar purpose. Anon Asks are mostly used for two purposes on Tumblr: For people who are shy or socially anxious to be able to talk to you without fear, and for bad actors who don't want the consequences of harrassing someone to be able to talk to you without fear. "Anon hate" is a not universal, but quite widespread phenomenum, and if you make it so people who send you Asks can't remain "anonymous" it discourages a lot of these hate messages. If you've been getting some of these lately, or fear it might happen to you, that's a good step you can take. But again; it's your choice. You can leave anonymous Asks on, to give more shy people the chance to talk to you (I have gotten a fair share of nice, kind and positive anon Asks myself!), and there's also nothing wrong with that. Just try to keep your safety in mind and remember you can turn them on and off whenever you want.

In the topic of Inboxes, you can also set it so nobody can send you certain things! Someone sending Asks in anonymous mode can't send images nor hyperlinks (underlined links, like this) by default (they'd have to type it out if they want to send it to you, like "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadpole" or something like that), but you can also make it so nobody can send you an image. This might be useful because since anyone you haven't blocked can send Asks (unless you turn all of them off! You can also do that!), people may use them to send you disturbing photos like gore (gore photos = violent images that may show guts and blood, either fictional or real) or porn. That's not quite common, though, so you don't need to stress about that. Just a setting you can choose.

In short, there are a lot of things you can do to protect yourself from bad actors who want to prey on you! Being aware of them is very important in order to ensure your online experience is as enjoyable and safe as possible.

And lastly, a final tip:

Number 10: Beware of certain harmful content

What does this even mean? This, (and by "this", I mean Tumblr and other social media and your blog and the blog of everyone you follow and every post you see) is the internet. In the internet, you can post about nearly whatever you want. (There are Tumblr's Terms of Service that say you can't post certain things like, for example, explicit pornography, but aside from that, pretty much whatever you want and no one can stop you.) This means that people can post about harmful things, too! And by that, I don't mean just the "trolls" I mentioned earlier. There are people here who promote ideas like transphobia, racism, fatphobia and eating disorders, by making arguments about why those things are actually good and why you should be fine with them. Especially if you are part of a minority group - Black, Native, non-white in general, queer (lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex, nonbinary, asexual, aromantic, etc), fat, physically or mentally disabled, mentally ill, neurodivergent, a woman or girl, a child, etc - seeing this kind of thing can be a blow to your self-esteem or make you dislike yourself and your appearence. It's not always easy to distance yourself from this kind of thing, but this is why it's also important to have friends and trusted people (be it in real life or online) that can reassure you and make you feel better, or help you spot this kind of harmful content.

However, I know that's not the case for all of us: Making friends (trusted friends, at that!) it's not always easy, and many people don't have many opportunities to, either. So generally, I have two little tips to help spotting this kind of thing:

If it's something promoting the idea that a certain group of people (ie. of a certain gender or body type or religion) is bad and not explaining why they're bad;

If it's something that says that there is a kind of thing you should absolutely not do or participate in, without explaining why that's bad either.

Now, an example of #1 would be saying people who are trans are evil or that people who are fat are ugly and sick and lazy, and an example of #2 would be saying that if you use neopronouns or draw furries, you are cringe and annoying.

Sometimes, there will be an explanation about why the person saying it thinks a certain thing is bad! And here, we will have to use our critical thinking to decide for ourselves if what they're saying is reasonable, or just coming from a place of hate. Again, I reiterate: To err is to be human, and sometimes you will believe something that is wrong. The most important thing is to remember to be open to criticism and other points of view, so that you are able to learn if something you thought was true is harmful! You will not make the best calls 100% of the time, and this is why talking to other people and hearing their opinions is also important: It will help further developing your critical thinking, so that you make even better decisions about what to believe in in the future.

Also as a side note on this topic, I'd advise exercising caution when a space (discord server, Tumblr blog, etc) claims to be "+18" if that's above your age range. Because, while what some people define to be "inappropriate for children" is total bullshit, like "gay romance" or "despictions of mental health struggles" (that children and teenagers also deal with!), "+18" is often shorthand for sexual spaces, and while you DO have the right to engage with that kind of topic on your own terms, doing so in a space full of adults can lead to tricky situations like being more vulnerable to sexual abuse and grooming (since young people are already a demographic more vulnerable to that) and other people in the group being pedojacketed (accused of sexually abusing children even when that's not true). Some types of people are also extra vulnerable to that latter, like the trans community, and I've seen cases where even when a trans person has no malicious intent towards a child/teen and is just letting them hang around, they get harrassed for being "a pedophile". With all of that in mind, it can often be safer for all parties involved to not engage with those "+18" spaces! Just a thing to keep in mind. Plus aside from that, many adults just want a space for people in their age range for comfort or personal reasons, so it's good to allow them to have it if that's the case.

— —

TL;DR ("too long; didn't read", a rundown of what I said in this post):

Don't share identifying personal information, because people who know too much about you may use that to harm you; don't click on strange links if you don't trust the person who sent them to you, they can download viruses on your device or make it get hacked; don't trust anyone asking you for money, it can be a scam; if someone online wants to be in a sexual relationship with you, always be suspicious, especially if you're a teen or a kid, and especially if they show signs of trying to groom you; block people who are bothering you, they don't deserve your time; be critical of things people say online, everyone can lie and say whatever they want in the internet; private your DMs so that creeps and bots can't bother you + consider turning off anonymous Asks so people can't use them to harrass you; try to avoid harmful beliefs and be open to hearing other people's opinions in order to form your own (that's how you develop your critical thinking skills!); and have fun!

Also here are the links I showed above if you don't wanna scroll back all the way to the top:

Explaining the danger that may come with sharing identifying personal information

Why we should be careful with sharing too much of our personal information online

Why you shouldn't click suspicious links

Examples of common scams on Tumblr to avoid

Explaining "grooming"

Cyberbullying

Definition:

Cyberbullying involves the use of digital platforms, such as social media, messaging apps, or online forums, to repeatedly target, intimidate, or belittle an individual. It is a form of bullying that occurs online and can include various forms of aggressive behavior.

As Harassment:

Cyberbullying becomes harassment when the behavior is intentional, repeated, and causes significant emotional distress or harm to the victim. It can involve sending threatening or abusive messages, spreading rumors, or using online platforms to isolate or degrade someone.

Examples:

Personal Attacks: A student repeatedly sends mean-spirited and threatening messages to a classmate through a messaging app. These messages include insults, threats of violence, and derogatory comments about the victim’s appearance and personal life.

Public Shaming: A group of people creates a social media page specifically to post embarrassing photos and make derogatory comments about an individual. The posts are shared widely, leading to public humiliation.

Spreading Rumors: An individual creates fake profiles to spread false and harmful rumors about someone, such as accusing them of dishonest or immoral behavior. This false information is shared across multiple platforms, damaging the victim’s reputation.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims of cyberbullying may experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The constant online attacks can lead to severe emotional distress and a sense of helplessness.

Social Isolation: The victim may withdraw from online and offline social interactions due to fear of further harassment. This isolation can lead to a decline in social support and relationships.

Academic and Professional Impact: For students, cyberbullying can lead to decreased academic performance and school avoidance. For adults, it can affect job performance and professional relationships.

Physical Effects: The stress and anxiety caused by cyberbullying can result in physical symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances, and a weakened immune system.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws specifically targeting cyberbullying. Legal actions can include restraining orders, criminal charges for harassment or threats, and civil lawsuits for damages. Laws vary by location, so the availability and extent of legal recourse depend on local regulations.

Platform Policies: Social media platforms and online services often have policies against cyberbullying. Users who engage in such behavior may face account suspension, bans, or content removal. Reporting mechanisms are available for victims to report abusive behavior.

Ethical Implications: Cyberbullying is ethically unacceptable as it inflicts unnecessary harm and distress on individuals. It contributes to a toxic online environment and can have severe consequences for victims. Promoting respectful and positive online interactions is crucial for fostering a supportive digital community.

Cyberbullying is a serious issue with far-reaching effects on individuals’ mental health and well-being. Addressing it requires both legal action and ethical responsibility, with efforts focused on prevention, support for victims, and creating a safer online environment.

Doxxing

Definition:

Doxxing (or "doxing") is the act of publicly revealing or publishing private, sensitive, or personal information about an individual without their consent. This information might include details like home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and workplace locations. The term "doxx" originates from the word "documents," reflecting the sharing of documents or personal details.

As Harassment:

Doxxing becomes harassment when the intention is to harm, intimidate, or distress the individual whose information is being exposed. It can be used to provoke harassment from others, incite physical threats, or damage the victim's privacy and security.

Examples:

Public Exposure: An individual’s personal details, such as their home address and phone number, are posted on a public forum or social media site after a heated online argument. This leads to unwanted contact and harassment from strangers.

Threatening Behavior: An online user publishes sensitive information about a journalist who has been critical of certain groups. The journalist starts receiving threatening messages and is forced to take security precautions.

Intimidation Tactics: After a disagreement in a gaming community, a player’s real-life address and contact information are shared with the community, leading to in-person threats and harassment.

Impact on the Victim:

Safety and Security Risks: The victim may face threats of physical harm or stalking due to the exposure of their personal information. This can lead to a heightened sense of vulnerability and fear.

Emotional Distress: Victims often experience significant emotional stress, including anxiety, fear, and a sense of invasion of privacy. The knowledge that their personal information is publicly accessible can be deeply unsettling.

Social and Professional Consequences: The victim’s reputation can be damaged, leading to unwanted attention and negative interactions in their personal and professional life. They might experience social ostracism or job-related issues as a result of the doxxing.

Financial Impact: In extreme cases, victims may incur costs related to increased security measures, legal fees, or changes in their contact information.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions consider doxxing a criminal offense, particularly if it involves threats, harassment, or incitement to violence. Laws related to privacy, harassment, and cybercrime can be applied to address doxxing. Victims can often seek legal protection or file complaints with law enforcement.

Platform Policies: Social media platforms and online services typically have policies against doxxing. They may take action such as removing the offending content, suspending accounts, or providing support to affected users. However, enforcement can vary.

Ethical Implications: Doxxing is ethically problematic as it involves a deliberate invasion of privacy and can lead to severe consequences for the victim. It violates principles of respect and confidentiality and contributes to a hostile online environment.

Doxxing represents a serious breach of privacy and security, with the potential for significant harm to individuals. Addressing doxxing requires both legal measures and a strong ethical commitment to protecting personal information and respecting others’ privacy.

Stalking

Definition:

Stalking involves persistent and unwanted attention or surveillance of an individual that causes them to feel fear or distress. It can occur through various means, including physical following, digital monitoring, or repeated harassment through communication channels. The intent is often to intimidate or control the victim.

As Harassment:

Stalking becomes harassment when it is done with the intent to cause emotional or psychological harm, invade the victim’s privacy, or exert control over their actions. The behavior is characterized by its repetitive nature and the fear it instills in the victim.

Examples:

Physical Stalking: An individual repeatedly shows up at the victim’s home or workplace, waits for them outside, or follows them in public places despite being asked to stop.

Digital Stalking: A person continually monitors the victim’s online activities, sends frequent and unwanted messages or emails, tracks their location through social media check-ins, and creates fake profiles to gain more access.

Harassing Communication: The stalker sends numerous threatening or intrusive messages, calls, or letters, making the victim feel unsafe and overwhelmed. This can include persistent contact despite clear requests to cease communication.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims often experience high levels of anxiety, fear, and paranoia. The constant sense of being watched or followed can lead to severe emotional trauma and mental health issues, such as depression or panic attacks.

Social Isolation: Victims may withdraw from social activities or change their routines to avoid the stalker. They might also feel compelled to move or alter their personal lives significantly to ensure their safety.

Professional Disruption: Stalking can interfere with the victim’s work life, leading to decreased productivity, job dissatisfaction, or even job loss if the stalking occurs at their workplace or affects their professional reputation.

Physical Safety: In severe cases, stalking can lead to physical threats or attacks, putting the victim's safety and well-being at risk. This may necessitate physical security measures or legal protections.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have specific laws against stalking, which can include criminal charges and restraining orders. These laws address both physical and digital stalking behaviors, providing legal avenues for victims to seek protection and hold perpetrators accountable.

Platform Policies: Social media platforms and online services often have policies against stalking and harassment. Victims can report stalking behavior to these platforms, which may take action such as banning the perpetrator or removing harmful content.

Ethical Implications: Stalking is ethically unacceptable as it infringes on an individual’s right to privacy and security. It represents a severe violation of personal boundaries and can cause lasting harm. Ethical behavior involves respecting others' personal space and ensuring that interactions remain consensual and respectful.

Stalking is a grave form of harassment that involves a persistent invasion of privacy and control over the victim’s life. Addressing it requires both legal intervention and ethical commitment to safeguarding individuals' personal safety and well-being.

Hate Speech

Definition:

Hate speech refers to any communication—whether verbal, written, or visual—that disparages or incites violence or hostility against an individual or group based on attributes such as race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It involves expressions that promote hatred or violence towards people based on these characteristics.

As Harassment:

Hate speech becomes harassment when it is used to target individuals or groups with the intent to demean, intimidate, or incite violence against them. It often creates a hostile environment and contributes to systemic discrimination and exclusion. The impact of hate speech can extend beyond the immediate target to affect entire communities.

Examples:

Social Media Posts: A user posts derogatory comments and slurs about a specific racial or religious group, encouraging others to join in and spread similar messages. These posts can lead to a climate of hostility and exclusion for members of the targeted group.

Online Forums: On a discussion board, members share and amplify content that advocates violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, including graphic threats and dehumanizing rhetoric. This can make LGBTQ+ users feel unsafe and unwelcome on the platform.

Hate Groups: Organized hate groups use websites and social media to recruit and spread propaganda that targets specific ethnic or religious groups. Their messages include misinformation, inflammatory statements, and calls for discriminatory actions.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Harm: Victims of hate speech often experience emotional and psychological distress, including feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression. They may feel dehumanized or marginalized.

Social Exclusion: Hate speech can lead to social ostracization and reduced participation in community or public activities. Victims may withdraw from online communities or public spaces to avoid hostility.

Physical Safety: In severe cases, hate speech can incite real-world violence or harassment against individuals or groups, leading to physical harm or threats. It can also contribute to a climate of fear and insecurity.

Community Impact: Hate speech can contribute to broader societal divisions and tensions, fostering environments where prejudice and discrimination are normalized.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: The legality of hate speech varies by jurisdiction. Some countries have specific laws that criminalize hate speech, while others protect freedom of speech more broadly, making legal action challenging. In regions with laws against hate speech, victims may have the option to report incidents to law enforcement or seek legal remedies.

Platform Policies: Many social media platforms have policies prohibiting hate speech and may take action by removing content, suspending accounts, or banning users who engage in such behavior. However, enforcement can be inconsistent, and some platforms may struggle to balance moderation with free speech considerations.

Ethical Implications: Hate speech is widely regarded as unethical because it promotes discrimination and intolerance. It undermines the principles of respect and equality, contributing to societal harm. Addressing hate speech requires a commitment to fostering inclusive and respectful communities, both online and offline.

Hate speech is a serious form of harassment with far-reaching effects on individuals and communities. Recognizing its impact and taking action to prevent and address it is crucial for promoting a more respectful and inclusive digital environment.

Trolling

Definition:

Trolling is the act of making deliberately provocative, offensive, or off-topic comments with the intention of eliciting strong emotional responses from others. It often involves disrupting conversations, creating conflicts, or stirring up controversy for amusement or to upset others.

As Harassment:

Trolling becomes harassment when the intent is to target specific individuals or groups with the purpose of causing emotional distress, confusion, or frustration. This involves consistently targeting someone with offensive or inflammatory comments, aiming to disrupt their online experience or provoke a reaction.

Examples:

Social Media Comments: A user repeatedly posts inflammatory or offensive comments on posts related to sensitive topics like mental health or personal identity. Their goal is to provoke arguments, upset the original poster, and attract attention to their own posts.

Forum Disruption: On an online forum focused on a specific hobby or interest, a troll deliberately posts off-topic or derogatory comments to derail discussions, causing frustration and confusion among regular members.

Live Stream Interference: During a live stream, a troll bombards the chat with spam, offensive messages, and provocative statements to distract the streamer and viewers, disrupting the content and conversation.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims may experience frustration, anger, and stress as a result of trolling. The constant need to address or ignore disruptive comments can be mentally exhausting.

Disruption of Conversations: Trolling can derail meaningful discussions and create a hostile environment, making it difficult for others to engage in productive or enjoyable conversations.

Reduced Participation: The presence of trolls can lead to decreased participation in online communities, as users may avoid engaging with platforms or topics where they have previously been targeted.

Psychological Impact: Persistent trolling can contribute to anxiety, depression, or feelings of helplessness, particularly if the troll’s comments are deeply personal or offensive.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: The legal response to trolling varies by jurisdiction and the nature of the trolling. While many forms of trolling do not constitute a criminal offense, behaviors that involve threats, harassment, or incitement to violence may be actionable under cybercrime or harassment laws.

Platform Policies: Most social media and online platforms have community guidelines that address trolling. They may take action such as removing offending content, suspending accounts, or banning users who engage in trolling behavior. Enforcement can vary, and some platforms struggle to effectively manage trolling.

Ethical Implications: Trolling is generally considered unethical because it aims to disrupt, harm, or manipulate others for personal amusement. It undermines respectful and constructive communication and can contribute to a negative online culture. Addressing trolling involves fostering a more respectful online environment and encouraging positive interactions.

Trolling is a form of online harassment that can have significant emotional and social impacts on individuals and communities. Recognizing and addressing trolling behavior is important for maintaining healthy and respectful online interactions.

Impersonation

Definition:

Impersonation involves creating or using a fake identity to deceive others into believing that you are someone else. This can include pretending to be a public figure, a private individual, or a professional entity. The goal is often to mislead or manipulate others for various purposes, including personal gain, harassment, or deception.

As Harassment:

Impersonation becomes harassment when it is used to target individuals with the intention of causing harm, spreading false information, or engaging in malicious activities. This might involve creating fake profiles or accounts to misrepresent someone or to exploit their identity for harmful purposes.

Examples:

Social Media Accounts: A user creates a fake social media profile pretending to be a well-known celebrity or public figure, using it to post misleading or harmful content that could damage the real person’s reputation.

Email Scams: An individual sends emails from an address that looks like it belongs to a trusted authority or organization (e.g., a company executive or a government official) to deceive recipients into providing sensitive information or making financial transactions.

Online Fraud: Someone impersonates a person in an online dating profile, using fake photos and personal details to manipulate or exploit other users emotionally or financially.

Impact on the Victim:

Reputation Damage: The victim may suffer from reputational harm if false or misleading information is spread using their identity, leading to confusion, mistrust, or negative perceptions among their audience or associates.

Emotional Distress: Being impersonated can lead to significant emotional distress, including anxiety, embarrassment, and frustration. The victim may feel violated and powerless, particularly if the impersonation is done in a malicious or humiliating way.

Professional Consequences: For public figures, professionals, or businesses, impersonation can lead to professional repercussions, including loss of business opportunities, legal issues, or damage to professional relationships.

Financial Impact: If impersonation involves fraud, the victim may suffer financial losses or be involved in lengthy and costly legal battles to address the situation.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws against impersonation, including identity theft, fraud, and misrepresentation. Victims may have legal avenues to pursue, such as filing complaints with law enforcement or taking civil action to seek damages. The specifics of legal recourse vary depending on local laws and the nature of the impersonation.

Platform Policies: Social media and online platforms often have policies against impersonation. They may take actions such as verifying identities, removing fake accounts, or suspending users who engage in impersonation. Effective enforcement of these policies can be challenging, especially given the scale of online interactions.

Ethical Implications: Impersonation is generally considered unethical because it involves deception and manipulation. It undermines trust and can have serious consequences for individuals and organizations. Ethical behavior online includes respecting others' identities and avoiding deceptive practices.

Impersonation can be a serious form of online harassment with far-reaching effects on both individuals and organizations. Addressing and preventing impersonation involves understanding its impacts, pursuing legal remedies when necessary, and fostering ethical online behavior.

Spamming

Definition:

Spamming refers to the repeated, unsolicited sending of messages or content, often with the intent to overwhelm, disrupt communication, or promote something, usually in a commercial context. It can occur through email, social media, messaging platforms, or other digital channels.

As Harassment:

Spamming becomes harassment when it is used to intentionally annoy, intimidate, or overwhelm an individual or organization. This might involve flooding someone's inbox with unwanted messages, bombarding a social media profile with repetitive or abusive comments, or inundating forums with irrelevant or harmful content. The goal is often to disrupt normal communication or to cause distress.

Examples:

Email Spamming: A user receives hundreds of unsolicited promotional emails, some of which contain malicious links or phishing attempts. The volume of spam clutters their inbox and makes it difficult to manage legitimate communications.

Social Media Spamming: An individual’s social media account is flooded with repetitive comments or messages from the same user or group. These comments might be abusive, irrelevant, or aimed at disrupting the user’s ability to engage with others on the platform.

Forum Spamming: A user continuously posts irrelevant or disruptive messages in online forums or discussion boards, often to derail conversations, promote products, or harass other users.

Impact on the Victim:

Overwhelm and Stress: The victim may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of messages or content, leading to stress and frustration. Managing or filtering through spam can be time-consuming and mentally taxing.

Disruption of Communication: Spam can disrupt normal communication, making it difficult for the victim to focus on important messages or tasks. It can also crowd out legitimate content or conversations, reducing the effectiveness of communication platforms.

Privacy and Security Risks: Some spam messages may contain malicious links or attachments that can compromise the victim’s privacy or security, leading to potential data breaches or identity theft.

Financial Impact: For businesses, spamming can lead to loss of productivity, increased costs related to managing or mitigating spam, and potential damage to their reputation if customers are affected.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws against spamming, especially when it involves malicious intent or financial fraud. For instance, the CAN-SPAM Act in the U.S. regulates commercial email and provides guidelines for managing spam. Victims of spam may also seek legal remedies for damages or file complaints with relevant authorities.

Platform Policies: Most digital platforms and services have policies against spamming. Violations can result in penalties such as account suspension, banning, or removal of the offending content.

Ethical Implications: Spamming is considered unethical as it disregards the recipient’s consent and aims to exploit or harass individuals. It disrupts normal communication practices and can contribute to a negative online experience for users.

Spamming, when used maliciously, can have significant negative impacts on individuals and organizations, and is addressed by legal frameworks and platform policies to protect users and maintain the integrity of digital communication.

Making Threats

Definition:

Threats to Harm Others: These are statements or actions that express an intention to cause physical harm or violence to another person. These threats can be explicit (directly stating the intention to harm) or implicit (suggesting harm or intimidation).

Threats to Harm Oneself: These are statements or actions that express a desire or intention to self-harm or commit suicide. Such threats may be made in distressing contexts and can indicate serious emotional or psychological issues.

As Harassment:

Threats to Harm Others: When threats are made to harm others, they can be a form of harassment if the intent is to intimidate, control, or manipulate the target. This can involve direct threats or veiled warnings intended to cause fear or distress. The impact can be significant, causing emotional and psychological trauma, and creating a sense of insecurity or danger for the victim.

Threats to Harm Oneself: Threats of self-harm can also be a form of harassment if they are used manipulatively or to provoke a response from others. In some cases, individuals may use threats of self-harm to exert control or to gain attention, which can create distress and concern among those who are aware of the threats.

Examples:

Threats to Harm Others:

Direct Threat: A user posts a message on social media stating, "I will come to your house and hurt you if you don’t stop talking about me." This explicit threat aims to intimidate the recipient.

Implicit Threat: An individual leaves a comment on a public forum suggesting, "People like you should be careful about what they say," followed by a vague reference to "consequences." This implies potential harm without explicit details.

Threats to Harm Oneself:

Direct Threat: A user posts on a social media platform saying, "I’m going to end my life tonight. I don’t see any way out." This expresses a clear intention to self-harm.

Implicit Threat: An individual frequently posts messages or updates about feeling hopeless and discusses self-destructive thoughts without explicitly stating their intent to self-harm, but hinting at severe distress.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional and Psychological Trauma: For threats to harm others, victims may experience fear, anxiety, and a sense of vulnerability. The threat of violence can lead to psychological stress and trauma.

Behavioral Changes: Victims of threats may change their behavior to avoid potential harm, such as avoiding certain places or people, or taking additional precautions for their safety.

Distress and Concern: For threats of self-harm, friends, family, and others may experience significant emotional distress and concern, feeling helpless or anxious about the individual’s well-being.

Intervention and Support: Threats of self-harm often prompt intervention from mental health professionals or emergency services, which can be disruptive and may lead to involuntary treatment or hospitalization for the individual making the threats.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse:

Threats to Harm Others: Making threats of violence can be illegal in many jurisdictions. Victims can report these threats to law enforcement, who may investigate and take legal action if necessary. Criminal charges can be brought against individuals making credible threats of harm.

Threats to Harm Oneself: While threats of self-harm are not typically illegal, they often prompt intervention by mental health professionals and emergency services to ensure the individual’s safety. In some cases, these threats may lead to involuntary hospitalization or treatment if the person is deemed a danger to themselves.

Platform Policies: Many online platforms have policies against threats of violence and self-harm. Content that violates these policies may be removed, and users making such threats may be banned or suspended. Platforms often have mechanisms for reporting and addressing these issues.

Ethical Implications: Both types of threats raise serious ethical concerns. Making threats to harm others is fundamentally unethical and can have legal consequences. Threats of self-harm require sensitive handling, as they indicate significant distress and necessitate a compassionate response to address the underlying issues and provide appropriate support.

Threats, whether directed towards others or oneself, are serious and can have profound impacts on all involved. They are addressed through legal channels, platform policies, and ethical guidelines to protect individuals and provide necessary support.

Sexual Harassment

Definition:

Sexual Harassment: This is unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or intimidating environment. It can occur in various forms, including physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct. Sexual harassment is often characterized by a power imbalance and can occur in both professional and personal contexts.

As Harassment:

Sexual Harassment becomes harassment when it involves making someone feel uncomfortable, threatened, or demeaned through sexual advances, comments, or behavior. This includes behavior that interferes with the victim’s ability to participate in work or social environments and can create an atmosphere of intimidation or hostility.

Examples:

Verbal Harassment: Making inappropriate or suggestive comments, jokes, or propositions about someone's body or sexual activities. For instance, repeatedly commenting on a colleague’s appearance or making unwelcome advances.

Physical Harassment: Unwanted physical contact, such as touching, groping, or brushing up against someone in a manner that makes them uncomfortable. This can also include gestures or displays of sexually explicit material.

Non-Verbal Harassment: Sending sexually suggestive messages, images, or using body language that implies sexual interest or intent. This includes persistent staring or creating an atmosphere with sexually explicit material.

Online Harassment: Sending unsolicited explicit messages or images through social media, email, or messaging platforms. This can also involve tagging someone in inappropriate content or making unwanted advances through digital communication.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims may experience a range of emotional responses, including anxiety, depression, and fear. The harassment can lead to a diminished sense of safety and self-worth.

Professional Consequences: In a workplace setting, sexual harassment can affect job performance, career progression, and workplace relationships. Victims may face challenges in their professional environment, such as being passed over for promotions or experiencing isolation from colleagues.

Social and Personal Impact: Harassment can lead to a loss of confidence, social withdrawal, and strained personal relationships. Victims might avoid certain places or situations to escape harassment or its reminders.

Physical Health: The stress and emotional impact of harassment can manifest physically, leading to issues such as sleep disturbances, headaches, or other stress-related health problems.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws and regulations against sexual harassment. Victims may have legal avenues to pursue claims, such as filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the U.S. or similar bodies in other countries. Legal action can result in compensation for damages, changes in workplace policies, or other remedies.

Platform Policies: Online platforms and workplaces typically have policies prohibiting sexual harassment. Violations can lead to account suspension, removal of content, or disciplinary actions against offenders. Reporting mechanisms are often available to address harassment claims.

Ethical Implications: Sexual harassment is a severe violation of ethical standards and personal boundaries. It undermines the dignity and rights of individuals and perpetuates a culture of inequality and fear. Ethical responses involve creating safe and respectful environments, actively addressing and preventing harassment, and supporting victims.

Sexual harassment is a serious issue with significant legal, ethical, and personal implications. Addressing it effectively requires a combination of legal action, supportive policies, and a commitment to creating respectful and safe environments for all individuals.

Understanding and addressing online harassment is crucial for fostering a safer and more respectful digital environment. From the deliberate spread of disinformation and defamation to the invasive impact of spamming and threats, each form of harassment has its own set of consequences that can deeply affect individuals and communities. Sexual harassment, in particular, represents a severe violation of personal dignity and can lead to significant emotional and professional harm.

By recognizing the different manifestations of harassment, from slander and libel to online threats and unwanted sexual advances, we can better equip ourselves to combat these issues effectively. Legal frameworks, platform policies, and ethical practices all play essential roles in addressing and mitigating harassment.

It is our collective responsibility to create and maintain environments—both online and offline—where individuals feel safe, respected, and heard. By staying informed, supporting victims, and holding perpetrators accountable, we can contribute to a more just and compassionate society. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and it is up to all of us to uphold these values in every interaction.

BIG PLAN (your big issue)

(i'm using death note as an example :))

light needs to kill the FBI agent that is following him and get rid of the other FBI agents that have come to japan.

MEDIUM PLAN (basics of what your character must do)

light needs to:

learn the FBI agent's name so he can write it in the death note

learn the other FBI agents' names so he can write their names in the death note

make sure none of it can be linked to him

SMALL PLAN (what your character has to do to make THOSE things happen)

1 -- 1A) get the FBI agent to reveal his name in some way, it's probably on an ID or something like that 2A) create a situation in which light and the FBI agent need to interact without it being suspicious

2 -- 2A) the FBI agent knows the names of all of his colleagues, get the FBI agent to say or write down those names

3 -- 3A) continue acting as a normal high schooler

EVEN SMALLER PLAN

1Aa) when would an FBI agent show his name on his ID to a civilian? maybe to prove he is who he says he is 1Ab) create a situation where the FBI agent may seem suspicious to others (maybe a hostage situation where he might be seen as an accomplice) 1Ac) light gets to ask the FBI agent for proof that he's not working with the criminal, which is a reasonable ask

and you keep going and going like that! you can go into even smaller and smaller plans until you arrive at a solution that satisfies you or gives you enough to write about. (and of course do your research when you need to!)