The other day, we received a correspondence from someone visiting our website asking about the short and long term effects of online harassment are. This person was in a relationship and when things didn’t go quite as planned they suddenly found themselves in a predicament they weren’t ready to handle.
Unfortunately, it’s more common today than at any other point in history for someone’s good name to be slandered in print. The rise of Social Media has made it even easier to bring someone down by stealing passwords and acting harmfully on someones account completely damaging both their online and offline reputation.
Fortunately, the Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts has extensive experience helping our clients get through experiences just like this.
Nobody should face online bullying and harassment alone and with our help, you don’t have to.
If you are someone who is reading this because you recently found something unfavorable about you, there are some important things that you can do to be proactive against whoever is harming you.
Here are our top 4 suggestions on how to take care of your online reputation in case of emergency.
What Should You NOT Do If You Have Been Slandered Online?
Rule #1: Do not respond!
It’s important that you never stoop to their level and respond online. Nothing good will come to this.
Rule #2: Don’t Overreact … Right Away
Do not become defensive if you feel that what steps were taken, advice and direction offered was accurate, correct, well thought through and consistent with the mission, goals, and values of the organization.
It’s important for you to stand firm when confronted by online harassment.
As free speech is a protected right, the right to criticize, to vocalize opinion is not restricted when that criticism is directed at we who espouse protection of free speech and in such role, we engage in considerable public criticism of others.
What Should You Do If You Have Been Slandered Online?
Rule #3: Reflect … Record … Review
Consider first, the circumstances of the attack, whether deserved, whether the person is reacting out of situational distress or is the nature and fundamental character of the person unreasonable to the point of being incapable or fully unwilling to engage in a cooperative relationship within the parameters offered by engagement.
- Embrace the occasion to review terms of engagement, written agreements and see how to improve whatever has been in place.
- Preserve the record – Copy Notes, create a timeline, contacts, phone calls, all communications with the client and with any and all collaterals.
- Alert all staff, consultants who had any contact with the case or the client directly to share the threatening communication so that they can be equally prepared to deal with whatever comes next.
- Critique your own work product, performance, and policies.
- Consult your lawyer – not necessarily to create litigation, but to understand and be able to protect your rights.
Rule #4: Contact the Foundation … We Can Help You!
The bottom line is the commitment to the mission of the organization and an understanding of the controversial nature and character of the population served, all of whom present with a range of personality challenges due to the deeply emotional, distressing content of the work in which we engage.
The FCVFC staff takes on direct opposition to authority, established, embedded, immune from prosecution authority in which few if any other organizations confront.
That being said, not all clients are able or willing to take on these challenges. Some clients are not capable of engaging in the type of collaborative, trusting, and bold interactions required by the work to be performed.
Let’s Work Together
For the last 10 years, the Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts has successfully helped hundreds of clients get there the most troubled times. If you are interested in learning how we can help you, please take a moment and fill out the contact form on this page. Someone will respond to you right away to help you and your situation.
