Definition Of Harassment On Social Media
Statements on social media can spread around the globe rapidly and there is no legislation dealing explicitly with social media yet it permeates every sphere equality dignity privacy freedom of expression access to information right to demonstrate picket and petition employment law dismissal for misconduct and so on.
Definition of harassment on social media. Use of social media facebook twitter instagram to harass embarrass or otherwise abuse others may be considered misuse of social media. Above all employees should feel comfortable reporting all forms of harassment. While cyberbullying may be a new form of harassment it is still legally regarded in much the same way as other types of harassment and often has devastating effects. The most relevant offences are harassment and malicious communications.
These types of behaviour may also involve the commission of communications offences contained within the malicious communications act 1988 mca 1998. For harassment to be committed there must have been a clear course of conduct. The messages do not necessarily have to be violent in nature but would need to have caused some alarm or distress. Online harassment shouldn t be taken lightly and should be dealt with in a.
Social media has unwittingly provided a platform which enables the commission of a number of criminal offences such as making threats to kill harassment and controlling or coercive behaviour. This misuse may result in student conduct code violations ranging from charges for. Cyberbullying is a form of harassment that has only become prevalent with the advent of the internet smart phones and social media. Social media harassment is a real threat heres how to protect yourself by gary davis on aug 08 2016 it is an almost undisputable truth that access to a cloak of anonymity and a large large microphone brings the worst out in some people.
Social media harassment poses a serious threat not just to young adults but brands and business owners as well. Having a clear policy will go a long way in preventing social media harassment in the workplace. In most cases the harasser s intention is to defame or discredit you often by convincing others to believe the fake quotes attributed to you which might then. Harassment sexual harassment abuse threats stalking cyber stalking and even assault.
Make it clear to your employees that there will be no retaliation for reporting electronic harassment either as a bystander or a victim. Online impersonation is a strategy whereby harassers create hoax social media accounts usually in order to post offensive or inflammatory statements in your name. The legislator did not require existence of physical contact to commit the crime of sexual harassment and considered the harassment of the victim for sexual reason sufficient to constitute the crime. As you know this is a new concept and people are just encountering it.