Elon Musk’s attempt to take over Twitter uses free speech as the motivation, but research shows that unregulated online spaces result in increased harassment for marginalized users.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Online harassment
Displaying 1 - 20 of 34 articles
We all have a role to play to address hostility online.
We recently heard that ‘new’ criminal offences would be added to the UK’s online safety bill to help tackle the growing problem of online abuse.
Attackers gain the trust of vulnerable individuals to obtain sexually explicit photos or videos via the internet, and then use these materials to blackmail victims.
We explored experiences of cyberbullying among young people in the UK. This is what we found.
While online communities may not fully address the isolation LGBTQ youth face in-person, they can serve as an important source of social support and a springboard for civic engagement.
Where policies do address online abuse and harassment, they’re largely ineffective in a world where academics engage with people in a variety of public platforms and through social media.
Combating sexism and other forms of harassment in online videogames comes down to community standards.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, online platforms might seem to be safer places to work and socialise, but online abuse is expected to rise – and women are at a higher risk.
A study of Instagram influencers has found most employ a highly sexualised aesthetic drawn from mainstream adult film. And many are subject to sexual harassment, ranging from aggressive comments to physical threats.
France’s #MeToo backlash has revealed just how deeply rooted sexism is in the country. Disguised as flirtation or child’s play, sexual harassment begins as early as elementary school.
Some people still think “trolling” refers to harmless fun. If we want to reduce abusive online behaviour, let’s start by getting our definitions right.
Eroding civility is not just an American phenomenon; it’s global. But it’s time for a return to civility as we reflect on how we will be judged and remembered when the dust of history settles upon us.
While they may talk about ‘free speech,’ businesses make decisions about their content based on a very different set of principles.
It could seem attractive to try to teach computers to detect harassment, threats and abusive language. But it’s much more difficult than it might appear.
Eliminating anonymity is often touted as a solution to hostile online behaviour, but research shows that agreeable people who are more likely to leave positive comments prefer to do it anonymously.
Social media sites should face tougher laws, but education is also key to tackling online abuse.
Companies and governments should do more to prevent ‘revenge porn’ without asking potential victims to send their nude photos to Facebook.
The media is doing the public a disservice by using the word “trolling” to describe more serious behaviours that should be defined as online harassment and abuse.
Filipino journalist Maria Ressa has faced online harassment campaigns designed to discredit and silence her.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University
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Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, RMIT University
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Doctoral researcher investigating governance of social media platforms, Queensland University of Technology
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Lecturer in Law, Keele University
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Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Royal Roads University
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Senior Lecturer in Investigative Psychology, University of Huddersfield
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Associate Professor in criminology, UNSW Sydney
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Senior Lecturer in Criminology, La Trobe University
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Senior lecturer, RMIT University
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Global Director of Research, International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Research Associate, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ), University of Oxford
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Senior Lecturer in Marketing, RMIT University
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Associate Professor of Criminology, Monash University
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Senior Lecturer in Forensic Linguistics, Lancaster University
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Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Federation University Australia
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Lecturer in Media and Communications, The University of Melbourne
