Bullying and identity theft on social networking sites
Bullying, Identity Theft & How to Report it
Identity theft is when someone sets up a webpage (or uses documents like passports etc) to pretend they are you. Sometimes, on social networking sites, people can set up a page which looks like you made it, but it says mean things about you and makes you look bad. This is a form of harassment and any kind of harassment is not ok.
The good news is that there's heaps you can do about it. NetSafe is here to help if you need it.
To make a complaint about someone who is cyber-bullying you or who is using your identity in Cyberspace without your permission, follow the steps below and don't forget to get in touch with us if you need help or more information.
If you're in a bullying situation, you can take these steps to sort it out.
1. Gather evidence
- Note down the web address of the abusive page (e.g. www.bebo.com/uglyboyauckland).
- Take a couple of screen shots of the abusive page. You can do this by pressing down Alt and the Print Screen key at the same time, and pasting the picture into Microsoft Word.
2. Check out the 'Terms of Use/Service'
- A link to these should be on the homepage of the website. It's a good idea to refer to them so that when you are laying your complaint you can state exactly what the bully has done wrong (according to the website rules).
- Note down the part of the Terms of Use that you are laying your complaint under.
3. Get in touch with the website to make a complaint
- For Bebo see http://www.bebo.com/ContactUs.jsp
- For MySpace see their cyberbullying page. MySpace also has a link about pages pretending to be you (or about you).
- For hi5, if you see something offensive, you can email them at: support@hi5.com
- To report abuse in Windows Live Spaces, click the 'Report Abuse' button in the lower right corner of every MSN Spaces page.
(If you are being harassed on a site not listed here, please get in touch with NetSafe and we can help you out)
4. Get help
- If you need help or you just want to talk over what's happened so far, get in touch with NetSafe. You can call 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723) or email us at queries@netsafe.org.nz
- Bullying and harassment can be hard to deal with, online or offline. It is a great idea to talk to an adult you trust (like a parent, caregiver, or school counsellor) for support.
NB. Most social networking sites have rules for people who use their website about harassing other people. Bebo, for example, says:
''you agree NOT to: - Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others.
- Publish, distribute and/ or disseminate any harmful, obscene, indecent, unlawful, libelous, profane, defamatory, infringing, inappropriate, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material or information.
- Use other Members' personal data for purposes other than establishing contact that is reasonably expected to be welcomed by such other Members." from http://www.bebo.com/TermsOfUse.jsp
If people break these rules by setting up an abusive page about you, they can then be kicked off the site (and the abusive page taken down). It can also pay to remember that in some cases, the Police can help (if the harassment is against the law). Get in touch with NetSafe for more information about what you can do for your specific situation.
Want to find out about protecting yourself from sexual predators while using social networking sites? Take a look at our page on Online grooming and sexual abuse.
Want to find out more about having a safer profile and making friends on social networking websites? Check out our webpage about keeping safe on social networking sites like Bebo and MySpace.
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