Dealing with outing
Outing is a form of cyber bullying. The bully shares private information about the victim often sharing private messages by forwarding them or posting them online. The bully is typically known to the victim and the impact of the private information being shared can be severe.
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Approaches to dealing with outing
Ask the perpetrator to remove the content - Contact the individual who shared the information and ask them to remove it from the places they shared it online. You may want to speak to the individual’s parents - if it was a school age child - and get them to support you.
Keep a copy of the evidence - It’s important to keep a copy of how the information was shared, whether through taking screenshots or saving the messages on the device. Saving the messages allows you to have evidence when reporting the cyberbullying.
Contact the platform used to share the content - If the information was shared on a social media site then you can contact the company and ask them to remove the content. Every social media site has a built in reporting process you can follow.
Try not to monitor the content online and resulting comments - While the information is online try not to monitor the comments and feedback. This will cause more distress.
The information is now public - As hard as it is to deal with the information the bully has shared is now public. Get the help and support you need to come to terms with this information being in the public domain.
If you are being bullied
Know it is not your fault - Nobody deserves to be bullied. Somebody being repeatedly cruel to you is a result of the bullies own personal issues. Know that it is not your fault.
Reach out for help - Especially if the behavior’s really getting to you. You deserve backup. See if there’s someone who can listen, help you process what’s going on and work through it – a friend, relative or maybe an adult you trust.
Don’t respond or retaliate - Sometimes a reaction is exactly what aggressors are looking for because they think it gives them power over you, and you don’t want to empower a bully. As for retaliating, getting back at a bully turns you into one – and can turn one mean act into a chain reaction. If you can, remove yourself from the situation. If you can’t, sometimes humor disarms or distracts a person from bullying.
Tell the person to stop - This is completely up to you – don’t do it if you don’t feel totally comfortable doing it, because you need to make your position completely clear that you will not stand for this treatment any more. You may need to practice beforehand with someone you trust, like a parent or good friend.
Use the tools you have available - Most social media apps and services allow you to block the person. Whether the harassment is in an app, texting, comments or tagged photos, do yourself a favor and block the person. You can also report the problem to the service. That probably won’t end it, but you don’t need the harassment in your face, and you’ll be less tempted to respond.
Advice for parents & carers
Each case of cyber bullying is different and all should be taken seriously. The following advice may help:
Let them talk - Give them the space to share what they want to in their way and listen. Try to avoid the temptation to interrupt because you know what’s going on, prompt if necessary but let them do most of the talking. If there’s one sure way to put a child off seeking help, it’s making them feel embarrassed or ashamed about why they’re asking for help. Times change and some of the things young people do today may make us cringe sometimes, but the inherent behavior is the same as it was when we were their age.
Don’t deny access to technology - When we speak to young people about barriers to getting help they often share that they are worried that their device may be taken away from them. Reassure them that this won’t happen if they speak up about something that has been worrying them online.
Talk to their school - Schools play a vital role in the resolution of abusive online behaviors. They have a plethora of effective tools such as the Family Online Safety Institute. They have anti-bullying and behavioural policies in place in order to provide a duty of care to all who attend. As such, they will want to know about any incidences that could potentially affect a child’s wellbeing. Take the evidence of bullying and any additional details about the context of the situation and length of time it has been going on for. It is helpful to discuss this with your child and you may want to speak to the school together.
Contact law enforcement if you fear for their safety - If you think that your child is in immediate danger don’t hesitate to call the police. Equally, if there is a direct threat of violence or harm within any conversation then you may also wish to contact your local police for support.
Tap into expert support
There are a number of Us organizations who specialise in supporting bullying victims. Consider working with one of the following organizations to get the help and support you need.
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