Before posting on any social media platform, we recommend you read Carleton’s guidelines on Protecting Your Privacy And Reputation Online. However, even if you follow every recommendation and guideline possible, you could still become a target of online harassment after posting on social media. This harassment comes in many forms (shaming, threats, trolling, etc.) and can be public, private, or both.

Experiencing online harassment can be overwhelming and isolating, but you do have options:

  1. If you or your loved ones are in immediate physical danger, call 9-1-1 immediately.
  2. STUDENTS: Submit a Community Concern Form and contact your class dean as soon as possible.
  3. STAFF AND FACULTY: Let your supervisor know what is happening so they can connect you with resources and support.

If you would like a communication professional’s perspective on your experience, send an email to the College’s vice president for communications and the news and social media manager.

What to keep in mind — and some actions to take — if you are targeted

  • Online harassment is intense, but often fleeting. The effects of harassment, however, can linger well beyond the immediate episode, which is why it is important to seek support from friends, family, and colleagues even after the harassment ends (not just during).
    • Professional mental healthcare can also be incredibly helpful after experiencing online harassment. Students can explore their options through Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), including 24/7 access to TimelyCare. Staff and faculty, in addition to their employee health insurance benefits, can also explore Carleton’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Preserve all evidence (messages, emails, comments, posts, etc.) in case they are needed later. Screenshot things in case they are deleted or edited by the original poster.
  • You might be doxed, meaning your email, social media accounts, and/or other pieces of contact information are publicized.
    • To remove your photo and/or contact information from a Carleton webpage, contact that webpage’s site maintainer (listed at the bottom of the page). To remove or change your information on Carleton’s online Campus Directory, see the instructions on the directory website.
    • Removing your information from the internet more broadly is harder; you will likely have to scrub your information from data-broker websites. Check out the guidelines on Protecting Your Privacy And Reputation Online for some options.
  • Responding to harassing messages tends to prolong and inflame incidents. It’s better to ignore, block, and report the harasser.
    • Consider suspending all social media activity for at least a few days, even messages that have no relation to the focus of the harassment.
  • If the harassment is public enough, media outlets may contact you; you do not need to respond to them if you don’t want to.
    • If you receive a media request or have questions about interacting with the media, please contact media@carleton.edu so we can work with you directly. You can always contact media@carleton.edu for support in crafting communications and responding to external messages.
  • Consider equipping anyone in your office or department who answers public calls, responds to general emails, or manages public social media channels with the appropriate information needed to address any possible harassing messages.