Guide for Influencers Facing Online Harassment, Bullying, and Defamation
Documentation and Evidence Collection
- Document Moderators: Keep detailed records of the moderators managing the snark pages. Note their usernames, any biases they display, and their actions that allow harassment to continue.
- Track Active Users: Identify and document the most active users who are participating in harassment. This can include usernames, frequency of posts, and the nature of their comments.
- Document Meanest Posts: Document the most harmful posts and comments. Screenshot these posts, including Subreddit name, username, type of comment (harassment, defamation, bullying, stalking, etc.) and links. Excel or Google Sheets are great resources to keep track of this information.
- User Post History: Investigate the post histories of the users involved in the harassment. This can help identify patterns and provide context for their behavior.
- Report Infringements: Actively report any unauthorized use of your copyrighted content on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and other social media sites. This includes both posts and comments. You can also include text posts such as user-generated transcripts of your content.
- Use Platform Tools: Utilize the reporting tools provided by social media platforms to flag and request the removal of infringing content.
- Report Violations: If moderators are not adhering to the platform's code of conduct, report their actions to the site administrators. Document specific instances and provide
- Delegate Responsibilities: Assign a trusted individual or legal representative to handle the documentation and reporting tasks. This allows you to avoid exposure to negative content and focus on your well-being.
- Professional Help: Consider hiring professionals who specialize in online reputation management and digital security to assist in these efforts.
- Monitor Brand Relationships: Be vigilant about any attempts to interfere with your relationships with brands you work with. Document any posts or actions that could potentially harm these relationships.
- Legal Recourse: Understand that you have legal options if someone interferes with your contracts. Consult with a lawyer to explore actions you can take against individuals who violate this aspect of your business.
- Legal Advice: Consult with a lawyer who specializes in internet law to understand your options for legal recourse.
- Privacy Settings: Regularly review and update your privacy settings on all social media platforms to limit the visibility of your personal information. This also includes family, friends, or anyone closely connected to you.