Preventing abuse during online calls - Part One
Published: 18/08/2022
Author: focusgov
The first part of a series of articles looking at online safety during digital meetings.
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In the last couple of years, we’ve had to replace our in-person social interactions with online meet-ups, video calls and chat groups. This change has affected our personal lives, interactions with our families and friends as well as our interaction with businesses.
While we were learning and adjusting to these changes it has become difficult to identify and control online abuse, especially for those of us who haven’t had an opportunity to explore these options beforehand.
In this series of blog posts we’ll talk about identifying possible abuse scenarios, present options and actions we could take to prevent such things from happening so that we could promote online safety for everyone.
In this series of blog posts we’ll talk about identifying possible abuse scenarios, present options and actions we could take to prevent such things from happening so that we could promote online safety for everyone.
We will be looking at:
- What are some examples of abuse during online calls?
- How to identify spaces which could become a target of online abusers?
- What do ‘safe spaces’ do to empower communication?
- What could we do to prevent abuse during online calls?
- Where can you get further help.
What are some examples of abuse during online calls?
To discuss examples of online abuse we’ll first need to understand the meaning of abuse. The NSPCC organisation shared advice and support on the topic of online abuse in an attempt to inform and keep everyone safe while using the internet:
"Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the internet. It can happen across any device that's connected to the web, like computers, tablets and mobile phones"
"Online abuse is any type of abuse that happens on the internet. It can happen across any device that's connected to the web, like computers, tablets and mobile phones"
Examples of online abuse
With many of us turning to online services, apps and websites for communication support during the last few years, it has become easier than ever to spread abuse.
Some examples of direct abuse you may be aware of would include rude, offensive and malicious communication described as ‘cyberbullying’ where the offender is verbally attacking those who are present on the calls.
This offence leaves the victim in a distressed state and more often than not, greatly impacts their wellbeing and self-confidence.
Some examples of direct abuse you may be aware of would include rude, offensive and malicious communication described as ‘cyberbullying’ where the offender is verbally attacking those who are present on the calls.
This offence leaves the victim in a distressed state and more often than not, greatly impacts their wellbeing and self-confidence.
Not all types of ‘cyberbullying’ are direct and easy to identify. Sometimes, we’ll see call participants being excluded from activities others may be participating in.
The victims in this case would lose the way of voicing their opinions, sharing their thoughts and asking questions. This type of abuse often results in further alienation of the victims and if not prevented, defeats the purpose of online safety and inclusion.
The victims in this case would lose the way of voicing their opinions, sharing their thoughts and asking questions. This type of abuse often results in further alienation of the victims and if not prevented, defeats the purpose of online safety and inclusion.
When offensive communication and indirect cyberbullying is not monitored and is not taken seriously, it can quickly grow into something bigger and spread across different online services which would, in that case, become identifiable as cyber stalking.
Sometimes, what happens online can transform into in-person abuse and inflict serious issues for both parties involved which is why it is so important to monitor our online services and act appropriately once we’ve identified signs of abuse.
Sometimes, what happens online can transform into in-person abuse and inflict serious issues for both parties involved which is why it is so important to monitor our online services and act appropriately once we’ve identified signs of abuse.
In our next article:
How do identify spaces that could become targets for online abuse, and how we can prevent abuse.
