Copy Editor
@_JustinMcClure_
It is never supposed to happen, but it does.
A recent study conducted by the U.S. Pew Research Internet Project found that 40 percent of adult Americans experience some form of online harassment. The report analyzed six types of online harassment including name-calling, embarrassment, harassment for a sustained period of time, threats of physical harm, stalking and sexual harassment.
In response to the recent study, Salisbury University students were encouraged to take an anonymous online survey in which 46 students responded.
Nearly 62 percent of students said that they had experienced some form of online harassment; however, the more concerning statistic is how 50 percent answered that they had not told anyone of online harassment occurring.
This statistic has left counseling professionals wondering why, but Director of SU Counseling Services Kathleen Scott has a hunch.
“Sometimes people will come to the counseling office not wanting to report (harassment) because they’re afraid the situation could escalate and they don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” she said. “The people are feeling victimized and disempowered and the motivation to go forward is hard.”
The statistics do not lie. According to the 46-surveyed SU students, the common outlet for online harassment to occur is in the social media realm, as 51 percent of students answered that their harassment experiences occurred on popular social media websites, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Six percent of students said that they also experienced harassment on an instant messaging website and only two percent maintained harassment had occurred through email and other formal online communications.
“There’s an aspect of anonymity on social media that eliminates face-to-face interaction,” Scott said. “People (that harass others online) can feel a great deal of freedom and not experience any consequences.”
The counseling services at SU have provided students with tips to document harassment so that their aggressor may be dealt with accordingly.
It is encouraged that they document the harassment so that proper evidence can be established against the harassing individual.
It is also suggested that the person causing the problem be blocked on social media websites to stop any further harassment from happening.
Through the survey, SU students also declared that 25 percent of them experienced name-calling, 15 percent endured some form of sexual harassment, while 13 percent had gone through embarrassment online.
“If we create a culture where we put people down then we’re saying it’s okay to hit people and assault people too,” Scott said. “We need to stop harassment at its most basic point.”
In order to do that, the counseling services at SU are launching a bystander intervention program that will teach people the proper ethics to intervene and defend someone when they are being put-down by others.
For more information on what SU counseling services have to offer visit their website at www.salisbury.edu/counseling/.