Harassment on social media is a significant cause of depression in most teenagers. Many victims of social media harassment have developed eating disorders, while some have resorted to self-harm or suicide. Many governments have become conscious of the menace and have created laws to grant justice to victims and punish offenders.
Read on to learn about the legal consequences of social media harassment.
What Does Harassment on Social Media Entail?
Harassment on social media involves the intentional use of social media platforms to harass and bully individuals with the intent of causing emotional or physical harm. To count as harassment and not trolling, the bully has to engage in this act towards another individual continuously
How Does the Law Punish People Who Harass Individuals on Social Media?
The law about the punishment of harassment on social media differs from state to state. In many states, first-time offenders are charged with misdemeanours and end up spending one year at most in jail. However, if you can prove that it was an intentional act and that the bully is not a first-time offender, they are more likely to be charged with felony plus jail time of one year and above.
In some states, the type of harassment perpetrated determines whether the offender faces a misdemeanour or felony prosecution. Aside from jail time, other punishments include locating the bully, obtaining a restraining order, and providing psychiatric counselling to the bully.
If you are a victim looking to sue someone for harassment on social media, here are a few things you should do to ensure you get the justice you seek.
Create a Record
For any case to stand a chance of winning in court; there must be evidence. This is why it is necessary to have a record of every one of your interactions with the harasser. Record every phone call, make screenshots of chats and take note of the timeline of events, including the date and time of every incident of harassment.
Contact a Lawyer or the Police
While you gather evidence, it is wise to get in touch with a lawyer from Riviere Law to help you through each step to avoid missing any crucial details. If you received threats and know the individual, you could also contact the police to file for a restraining order.
If the harassment isn't ongoing and you don't see the point in suing the bully, you can mute, block, or report their accounts. You may prevent them from contacting you through social media, emails, or phone calls by banning them and reporting them so that their accounts are flagged.
Bottom Line
Harassment on social media is best-tackled head-on if we want to see a decline in the number of victims that the same individuals often harass. Report any harassment you discover on social media to save its victims.