Hey Guys Lets Start exploring Trolling, Online Harassment and memes also lets get to know when will this activity amounts to crime. As we all are privilege to use internet as per as wishes where we can freely share our thoughts, make connection with others also share our opinions and suggestions. There are few peoples who see trolling as a harmless activity, if can quickly become a serious issue where it will ultimately affect our mental health and personal safety. Here we are going explore when will this act of trolling and online harassment will amout to crime and criminal behaviour.
Understand Trolling VS. Online Harassment
Before we start our discussion on when trolling becomes a crime, it’s important for us to understand the difference between trolling and harassment, only then we will get a fair idea on what this activities actually is.
What is Trolling ?
Trolling is an act where a person intentionally harms or provokes or even upsetting peoples online inflammatory words or unwanted messages, which badly damages the reputation of the peoples, some of the Examples of Trollings are.
- Making jokes which harms others
- Mocking at peoples badly
- Exaggeration opinions to emotionally harm peoples
- Posting Controversial comments which creates mental disturbance
When a Trolling is done with some light-hearted manner, such kinds of trolls will be ignored by users where it does not create big issue. However, persistent, aggressive and continuously trolling can break the internet which there might be a big dispute which might be arised which will amount to online harassment.
What is Online Harassment ?
Online Harassment is nothing but where are person involves in unwanted activity repeatedly, aggressively and show cases harmful behaviour by targeting an individuals. This can include.
1. Cyberbullying – By use of Internet technologies such as social media applications, mobile numbers, etc, where a accused might send threats, spreading false rumours or humiliating someone online which completely disturbs the peace of the victim
2. Doxxing – When any person publishes someone’s private informations without there consent it is said to be doxxing, This act is not right any person continues to do so will have to face legal issues
3. Cyberstalking – Cyberstalking means repeatedly contacting or monitoring or messaging someone in a threatening manner, Cyberstalking is not considered as a good practise as it against the rights of an individual, which also affects right to privacy of an individual.
4. Defamation – Defamation means spreading false information to damage someone’s reputation and fame, Defamation is one of the well know offence which is taking place everywhere, there is some or the other way where a person causes injury to the reputation, name and fame of other persons
When do you Think Trolling Becomes a Crime ?
All the trolling which is taking place in the internet cannot be considered as iIlegal, but if the troll crosses certain limits and boundaries it is considered to be illegal which can lead to legal consequences. Here are some of the instances where trolling becomes a crime.
1. Harassment and Repeated Targeting
When someone continuously targets an individual by using offensive or defamatory words it is said to be harassment. Incase victim feels that they are not safe also mentally and emotionally disturbed they can file a suit to protect themself.
2. Spreading False Information
Someone starts to spread false informations by posting false claims or misleading startement which creates serious harm to someone’s reputation and can result in legal action. This activity does not limit to individuals it is also applicable to public figures and businesses
3. Cyberstalking and Unwanted Surveillance
This is nothing but using the internet to track and monitor someone’s activities without even there consent or there knowledge is considered as cyberstalking. This includes activities such as unlimited messaging, keep following someone’s location and hacking other peoples accounts.
4. Threats and Intimidation
Any individuals start posting messages which contains violence or intimidation or threats of harm, which will no longer be considered as trolling – it will be considered as a Criminal offense. Some of this offences include things such as:
- Social Media platforms
- Emails and text messages
- Public forums or private chat groups
5. Non-Consensual Sharing of Personal Information
If a person starts to reveal any personal informations of someone details such as home address, phone number or workplace – without the consent of the person is such a situation it is said as Doxxing, this is very dangerous will also amount to crime in certain jurisdiction.
What do you think will the Impact of Online Harassment be ?
Though Online Harassment seem like a less serious because there is a general presumption that online activities are normal because some or the other things keeps taking place in the online because of which people underestimate it, but in reality it has very bad effect on victims, some of the consequences includes:
1. Reputational Damage – Unwanted false accusations and allegations and unwanted negative content can create very bad harm on career and person lives of an individual who is a victim of the crime
2. Loss of Privacy – Since the accusation and negative content has been shared in the internet where the application is been used by numerous peoples from multiple countries where everyone gets to access and view the content because of which privacy of an individual gets lost
3.Legal Consequences – If an accused person keeps on continuing this activity he might be face the following consequences such as Fines, Ban from usage of social media accounts and even Jail or imprisonment.
4. Mental Health Issues – The very first harm which a victim will face is mental issues, where the victims will encounter many mental problems such as anxiety, overthinking, mindless work, depression, etc. which will be really dangerous for day to day activities.
How to Protect Yourself from Online Harassment
If you encounter any of the above experience such as trolling or online harassment, please do not fail to take the following steps :-
1. Block and Report – Whichever social media which you are using, you will get to see block and report make sure you use it, once if you block someone they can able to message you anymore, if you report the user company itself will take action over the user for his unwanted activity.
2. Strengthen Privacy Settings
You can make you privacy settings much more stronger, where you can restrict the persons from accessing you account, you can do things such as if your account is Public you can make it private by doing no one can access expect the persons whom you gran permission.
3. Do Not Engage
Stop engaging with posts, reels, trolls, memes which will often creates some or the other disturbances. If someone provoke you or trigger you with there texts and other forms of content the best thing which you can do is do not respond or no response.
4. Document the Harassment
You document harassment as a proof such as taking the screenshots, save messages as evidence, record the calls, etc where you can start using this informations when you are about to report the issues with the appropriate authorities.
5. Seek Legal Help
If you are not sure on what has to be done due to excessive harassment made by a person in such situation you can start taking the help of some lawyers who can guide you on how to overcome such situations, Seeking Legal help is very much essential as it helps you to overcome troubles in a right way.
Conclusion
As we all know that Internet is freely accessible by all the peoples in the world there won’t be any restriction except few websites and application, because of this privilege there is a chance of people misusing the internet where they start involving themself into activities such as Trolling and Harassment which can create real-world harm, in many cases this kinds of activities are punishable by law. If you are someone whom you know is facing this kind of online abuse take action immediately and stay protected from your digital well-being.
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