Be more than a bystander

The term technology facilitated gender-based violence (TFGV) is used by Amnesty International to “describe acts that use technology to cause harm to women, girls and LGBTI people.” This can include online bullying and harassment, doxing, cyber stalking and other online coordinated behaviours meant to cause emotional, psychological or physical harm to the target.

My research team at Royal Roads University has been studying scholars who experience TFGV since 2017. We have found that TFGV causes major emotional, psychological and professional consequences for targets. We have also learned that even though most institutions know that this is a problem for women and marginalized academics, they don’t really know what to do about it.

While it’s true that we cannot punish random and anonymous perpetrators of online violence, this does not mean that nothing can be done.

So how can you support a colleague when they are faced with online harassment?
Here are five research-backed tips:

1. Let people know you are in their corner.
Before others release a media interview, share their research with the public online, or discuss an issue relevant to their work on social media, scholars need to know who around them can lend a hand if things go wrong. This means letting your colleagues know early and often that you’re there to help, that you support them and have their back. Sometimes this can look like sharing a time when you’ve experienced online harassment so that others can see you know how it feels. Other times, it may involve an invitation to colleagues to let you know when they are publishing their work to the public so that you can watch for trouble.

2. Be a proactive online commenter.
Studies have shown that proactive positive comments in an online forum or on an article can help to create an environment where fewer negative comments occur. Similarly, “counterspeech”, that is responding proactively and constructively in the face of online harassment, can have real benefits. As an ally, once your colleague has called you in and alerted you to an online article or social media post that they want your help with, proactively post positive comments or engage in counterspeech to help mitigate any harassment that occurs.

3. Block, document and report.
Sometimes counterspeech isn’t enough and other actions need to be taken. Usually, we advise targets of gender-based online violence to block, document and report their harassers, but that can feel very stressful and overwhelming if the target has to do it alone, increasing the chances that they will experience burnout or emotional stress. You can be an effective ally by taking on some of this work for your colleague. Some people have told us they have been helped by turning off their social media notifications and enlisting family and friends to help block, document and report harassers. Ask your colleague if they’d like your help with these important tasks, if need be.

4. Offer support outside of work.
If your colleagues experience TFGV, they may need to talk, take a break, or feel like someone is helping them stay safe. You can offer tangible support by offering to take your colleague for coffee or for a walk, picking up a bit of extra work if they need to take time away from their computer, or even walking them to their car if they are feeling worried about being alone.

5. Help advocate to your employer.
Employers can make IT, communications and security support available, and should develop policies and processes informed by faculty for providing support during times of harassment. Most institutions do not have such a framework in place yet, but you can help advocate for one. It should not just fall on the shoulders of targets to provide advocacy at our workplaces. You can be one of the voices asking for additional support, particularly on behalf of your colleagues who may be more marginalized or are less secure in their career (non-tenured or sessional faculty for example).

By adopting the above practices, you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of your colleagues who are targeted with TFGV.