According to GuardChild, over 40% of all teenagers with Internet access have reported being bullied online. Even more distressing is the fact that over 60% have never reported that abusive behavior. One of the possible explanations for this is that people simply don’t know how to report it. Fortunately, it’s not impossible to report offensive or abusive behavior on social media.
Report offensive behavior on Facebook
With over one billion active daily users, Facebook is the most popular social media network in the world. While Facebook can connect friends and family, it can also easily be used to harass others. Fortunately, there are a number of different ways to report something on Facebook. If you want to report a person for harassment or abuse, navigate to that profile. In the bottom right hand corner of the person’s cover photo, click on the three dots […] In the menu that appears, select “Report.”
To report an offensive post or photo, click the downward pointing arrow in the top-right of the post. In the menu click “report post” or “report photo.” Select the option that best describes the problem, and follow the on-screen instructions. If you need to report a threatening message, you can do so by filling out this form. Facebook will not report your identity to the person who sent the message. The Facebook Help Center details how to report various other things you may encounter including Pages, Ads, Events and more.
Report offensive behavior on Twitter
Twitter gives users the ability to report a wide range of questionable activity, from abuse to copyright infringement. Be aware that the process can look slightly different between Android and iOS. To report a specific tweet, tap the downward-pointing arrow located at the top of the tweet, and then select “Report Tweet.” You will be prompted to choose why you’re reporting the tweet. Furthermore, if you select “It’s abusive or harmful,” you’ll have to provide additional information.
Reporting a Direct Message requires you to locate the message and tap and hold it. In the pop-up menu that appears select “Report message.” As with reporting tweets, if you select “It’s abusive or harmful,” you’ll be asked for more information. To report a profile for violations of Twitter Rules, you can do so by tapping the three stacked dots on Android or the gear icon in iOS. In the menu that appears select ,” followed by the type of issue you wish to report. Additional information about reporting on Twitter can be found here.
Report offensive behavior on Instagram
Reporting offensive content on Instagram on the popular photo sharing app is fairly straightforward. To report a specific photo, simply tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the post. In the menu that pops up, select “Report.” Alternatively, you can choose to report a person or profile. To do so, navigate to the profile and tap the three dots in the top-right corner. In the pop-up menu tap on “Report.” If you would like to report an offensive comment on your own post, swipe left on the comment. This will give you the option to report that specific comment.
To report a threatening or offensive Direct Message, click the circled “i” in the top-right corner of the conversation. This will bring up the “Details” menu. Here you can select “Report.” The process of reporting something in a private message is slightly different. Find the message in question and long-click on the text bubble, as if you were trying to highlight the text. Doing so will give you two options, including “Report.”
Report offensive behavior on Snapchat
The idea behind Snapchat is that the snaps users send to each other “self-destruct.” This can make cracking down on bullying and harassment incredibly difficult. Luckily, you’re not powerless against trolls, as there are ways to report abusive behavior. Unfortunately, Snaps and Stories disappear after a short period of time. Because of this, it isn’t possible to report abusive behavior within the Snapchat app itself. Instead, users must use the Snapchat support site.
In the column on the left click on “Policies & Safety.” In the sub-menu click on “Report a Safety Concern.” At this point a number of options will appear under the “Contact Us” menu in the center of the screen. Click on “Report a safety concern.” Snapchat will then require you to provide more information regarding your compliant. Once you’ve answered all of Snapchat’s questions, the support site will recommend that you block the offender. If you wish to continue filing a report, click the “Yes” button next to “Still Need Help?” Doing so will bring you to a form where you can answer questions in more detail.
Conclusion
Social media is a great way to stay connected and share your life with the people you care about. Unfortunately, there are people out there who wish to do harm. Thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself and others from harassment and abuse.
