A little more about HeartMob: HeartMob helps understand, expose, and undermine online harassment, ensuring safe public spaces for individuals online by providing real-time support for bystanders and individuals who are harassed.
Pull out box with data: “According to a Pew Research Center survey, 40% of people have experienced online harassment and 73% of people witnessed someone else being harassed online.“
Here’s how HeartMob works: People who experience online harassment can use HeartMob to request immediate support; report their harassment; and maintain complete control over their story. Once they document their story, victims are given a host of resources, from securing their identity online (to prevent doxxing and defamation); engaging in self-care; educating audiences on the contours and danger of hate online; building awareness of existing reporting tools on social media platforms; and more.
Why is bystander intervention a useful approach to addressing online harassment? Unlike harassment at work or on the street, there are almost always bystanders witnessing online harassment. These bystanders’ actions can have a direct impact on the person being harassed, significantly reducing their trauma. However, oftentimes individuals witness harassment but don’t know how to help. HeartMob empowers bystanders to act by providing concrete, user-requested actions. This can include: documenting and cataloging the harassment for the victim (a best practice in reporting); sending supportive messages; reporting the abuse directly to the original platform; or additional actions. Bystanders and the general public are also given extensive resources to educate them on online harassment and provide the tools they need to build awareness, ensure their own safety, and encourage counter-action.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, please sign up at iheartmob.org and let us know what you think by taking the survey here.
Thanks for all your help!
P.S. Since launching in 2016, HeartMob has helped 1,467 people with their experiences of online harassment -- and bystanders have taken 7,468 actions on their behalf. To help support the growth of HeartMob, donate today.