Cyber Bullies and Lies

Most websites now carry new safety features to help protect those that use the site. But does this really stop anyone from bullying or harassing anyone if they want to? No, it does not.

The first site that I can give as an example is Facebook. I had left an abusive husband with my four children. He was leaving me dozens of messages that were full of threats. So I naturally blocked him so he couldn't leave me anymore messages. I had forgotten about my second account. Sure as he found a way to log on to the internet he had messages for me on my secondary account that I don't use. Does the harassment stop once I block him from that account? No. He continues to threaten on the site's wall and leaves other people messages with threats. No one from Facebook helped.

The second site is IMVU. This site has the great feature of blocking as well. Just like Facebook, it doesn't stop the bullying or harassment if you or the person harassing you has a second account. The worse part about this site is that if the person who is bullying you finds your information, you might lose your account to them. The one group that was harassing me went as far as to degrade my physical appearance for all to see, make fun of the situation I was in, and hack my account to change my name to a very derogatory name. Once I reclaimed my account, a name change was given to me and I gave my account away. Being bullied off of the site just because someone was miserable and depressed was something I couldn't believe happened, especially since I had never met any of these people personally.

The only advice that I can ever give is the same advice these websites give plus one extra that they don't tell. Never give your log-in information to anyone. If you can help it, don't log-in on anyone else's computer, this includes a public computer. Block the person that is harassing you. If it continues, contact your local police department to see what else can be done for your protection. The last bit of advice, if you do start talking to these people that you meet online, don't talk about any personal information that might come to bite you in the butt later. No matter how close you may get to them.