Resource For Police To Suspend Twitter Accounts

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

We'd all like to think police have a handle on internet abuse but that's just not so. Many police agencies would know how to contact twitter or could figure it out, but believe it or not there are some police who are unaware and still take an indifferent view of alleged abuse reported by online victims. I thought this would be a useful link everyone should have to provide police an immediate way to request abuse account suspension on the twitter service. If they don't have to look up procedures or think they need to go a more formal route through the court system, an officer will probably move to complete the form at the time a victim reports initially reports it. File under good to know. 

https://support.twitter.com/forms/lawenforcement

Don't Feel Intimidated When Reporting Online Abuse To Police

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

If you are considering approaching police to file a report about online abuse, you may feel intimidated and worried you will not be taken seriously. That's common but do not let it keep you from seeking the help you need and deserve. Police want to help victims but some facilities, areas, and countries are still catching up to technologically committed crimes. Here is a link victims might well find helpful and though geared toward the UK police process the same should well apply elsewhere.

Remember, the more evidence you have to provide police the more able they are to deal with the online crimes committed against you. Do not delete voice mails, text messages, emails, or social media posts and if abuse is posted online be sure you screenshot and print it before it can be deleted and you lose that evidence before the police can review it.

http://www.stalkinghelpline.org/faq/talking-to-the-police/

Cyberstalking Documentary

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Blogger

This is an excellent cyberstalking documentary via the Crime and Investigation channel based in UK. It's nearly an hour long video but full of important information and specific stories about cyberstalking experiences. I would encourage everyone to watch it and use it to open discussions with young people in the guidance for their digital safety.

Twitter Takes Another Step To Protecting Users

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Blogger

Hello, Twitter has been in the news as of late with its plans to crack down on cyberbullies and other internet abusers. Now they have taken another positive step in helping bridge victims between online reporting and real realm reporting to law enforcement officers. They are provide a new option in their Block and Report feature which enables victims to print off a police report to submit in their area.

Here is an article write up discussing the new measure and showing examples of how it will work in action. Please share this with others so they will be aware of the new feature.

http://www.itproportal.com/2015/03/19/twitter-tackle-cyberbullying-print-police-report-option/

Twitter CEO Says They Suck At Dealing With Trolls, But That's About To Change

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Blogger

Finally the social media giant Twitter is taking action. Last month, their CEO, Dick Costolo took personal responsibility after the platform came under scrutiny for their role in the rampancy of cyber abusers leveraging their free and anonymous service as a tool to abuse and draw harm to targeted victims. Some of those victims committing suicide in response to the abuse and public humiliation received. In his own words, Mr. Costolo sent a memo to Twitter employees. He says: 

"We suck at dealing with abuse and trolls on the platform and we've sucked at it for years. It's no secret and the rest of the world talks about it every day. We lose core user after core user by not addressing simple trolling issues that they face every day.

I'm frankly ashamed of how poorly we've dealt with this issue during my tenure as CEO. It's absurd. There's no excuse for it. I take full responsibility for not being more aggressive on this front. It's nobody else's fault but mine, and it's embarrassing.

We're going to start kicking these people off right and left and making sure that when they issue their ridiculous attacks, nobody hears them. Everybody on the leadership team knows this is vital."

I am giving you the link for the full article. This is a big step for the company and can only lead to more and more improvement in online safety.

http://mashable.com/2015/02/04/twitter-ceo-trolls/

Video: Cyber Harassment and Cyber Stalking: The New Frontier of Civil Rights in the Twenty-First Century

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

Hello, I've discovered and am sharing a lengthy but worthy video from Case University School of Law in the US. The first 10 minutes are background room noise with no speaker so fast forward your cursor prompt to roughly 9:45 inwards for the main introduction and 15:26 for the true start.The video discussion seminar is Cyber Harassment and Cyber Stalking: The New Frontier of Civil Rights in the Twenty-First Century. It's a bit dry but worth viewing. Raised are important questions facing us today and in the future with civil rights or free speech and how it bands to the legal processes not only in the US but around the democratic world.

Dr. Gary Namie Describes 4 Bully Types

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

Dr. Gary Namie describes in detail 4 principle bully types one may find in the work-adult world.  Although these are descriptions of negative personalities and the typical methods of bullying they employ, each can manifest through the internet while at work or home.  It is an expose of immature adult behaviour. 

 

What Constitutes Cyber Harassment and Bullying

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

Very informative video from law professor Patrick Corbett on what exactly constitutes cyber harassment and bullying in the state of Michigan USA. These precise definitions are much the same in most of the United States and elsewhere. 

Cyberstalking Protections

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

Here is a news clip talking about the ease at which cyberstalkers can obtain information about you.  Residence addresses are easy to find on the internet and can be used to quickly pinpoint your location on a search engine such as google maps. Something as innocent as posting a picture of the area you live in could also be dangerous as GPS coordinates are sometimes embedded in photos or provide searchable information for the most intent of stalkers to track down.  

Nothing on the Internet is Private Beware

By Carolyn Davis, Contributing Content Blogger

Nothing posted on the internet is private though even in this day and age there are still some who don't know this. Many are under the perception that personal information shared with friends remains with friends. Not so. The internet is ripe with cyberstalking. This short clip I share below suggests strange men as being the principal perpetrators of online stalking, but everyone need know a large proportion of cyberstalking is carried out by friends or others identified already as safe by the victim.

Workplace Bullying Video identical to Cyberbullying Dynamic

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

I've found a thorough and excellent look at bullying in the workplace and how it negatively effects not just the victims but also the organisations in which it occurs. This clip does focus more on bullying in general but the same motivations, justifications, and consequences of the bully-victim dynamic are identical to cyberbullying so it's worth a look. This is it for me until after the holidays so I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and much prosperity in the new year!

Sexting Dangers

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

We are increasing the awareness and education of young people about sexting but they still are involving themselves in these behaviours. Young people need to fully understand the consequences of their actions. The price for these choices they could do penance for years and affect them and their futures in ways they aren't thinking about. Here is a video albeit it brief. I'm posting this as a short but worthy reminder that drives home the point. Nothing posted online should be considered confidential.

Anti-Bullying short

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

The video I post below does not mention cyber abusements but I thought it important to share. We know in youth, cyber-bullying and cyber-harassment behaviours will often begin as seeds planted at primary or secondary school. Reminding ourselves of this is of some importance. Youth learn to interact with their society and culture at school, and that includes social boundaries and behaviours that will expand to their internet experience. This reminds us of the need to address bullying in all forms for school age children in all countries as a proactive measure against later abusements that would evolve to their online behaviours. Please share this important reminder.

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

Harassment and bullying are well known and experienced phenomena worldwide. This PSA talks about laws in countries such as Singapore, Australia, and the UK that are becoming tougher on harassment in general but more specifically on cyber forms of these crimes. These countries are setting the stage for a no-tolerance policy. Please share.

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

AVG Technologies (Anti-Virus-Guard) held a summit meeting to discuss a variety of important topics concerning evolving safety concerns for children on the internet. Below I've shared a very good teaser clip highlighting some of what was discussed during the meeting. Good information to have.

NASUWT Campaign for Change

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

Passing along this great bit of information for all interested and in the appropriate region to take part or make further inquiries. 

A UK organisation known as the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), has expressed concern about cyberbullying based on empirical data from a vast collection of teacher experiences. This is the largest teacher's union in the United Kingdom. The group recognises the extreme benefits of using current digital technology, but at the same time are alarmed at the routine abuse of social media, internet sites, and mobile phones in schools. They are now on a mission to campaign for change.

Here is a good article about what they are up to:
http://www.unite4education.org/uncategorized/uk-teachers-union-takes-on-cyberbullying/

and here is a link to their website for contact on getting involved: http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/

Is Cyberbullying a Virus?

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

This is a valuable video I found that likens cyberbullying to a virus and bullies to the infected. The way it's put together is interesting and something we should all consider. Please watch and share this video with others.

If Only It Were This Easy (Bullying PSA)

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

Sharing this video PSA on cyberbullying. If Only It Were This Easy displays the very real effects of cyberbullying and reminds us of the drastic end so many victims of online abuse and hate find when they take their lives in suicide. Please watch and share this video and open discussion with your children. Another thing to be reminded of with this is the cry for help from victims. Never dismiss them or believe they won't take action on their talk of suicide. Talking about suicide is a cry for help in desperation of not being able to take on any more pain. We have to listen to victims.

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

I thought this was well worthy of sharing. This video clip about cyberbullying was posted nearly 9 years ago but it's still as pertinent and poignant today as it was then if not more. Please watch and share. This video was created in 2006 but that was still at a time cyber hate and abuse was just beginning. Look at the technology in this video in the outdated computers and old mobile phones and consider how far the cyber world has come and how all the more deadly and dangerous it is today. Then give ponderance to how deadly and dangerous it will be 9 years from now if nothing is done and the internet continues with no global safety policies and protocol standards. 

Will US Lose Control Of WWW?

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

This is an interesting video that offers interesting questions. Brazil is taking the lead in challenging the US on how the internet will be controlled. Online privacy is central to the issue which could have impacts on the way US based social media, and other entities, will be organised and operate in the future. Please watch and share.