Cyber Harassment

Online harassment can take different forms:

Trolling

Trolling refers to the act of deliberately provoking or upsetting people online by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments. The goal of trolling is often to elicit strong emotional reactions or to disrupt conversations and communities. Trolls may use various tactics, such as spreading misinformation, making personal attacks, or posting off-topic messages.

A troll is a person who intentionally antagonizes others by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content in different online venues.

Doxxing

Doxxing (or doxing) is the act of publicly revealing private or personal information about an individual without their consent, typically with malicious intent. This information can include addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, and other sensitive data. The goal of doxxing is often to harass, intimidate, or harm the targeted individual.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the willful and repeated harm inflicted through using computers, cell phones and other electronic devices.

Astroturfing

Astroturfing is harassing content that appears to arise and spread organically at the grassroots level but is coordinated (often using multiple fake accounts) by an individual, interest group, political party, or organization.

Though generally short in duration, these situations can be very intense, alarming, and disruptive to an individual, as well as to departments, administrators, and students, with real consequences for livelihoods and careers. The following guidance is meant to help targets of online harassment and department administrators navigate these situations, safely and effectively, by leveraging campus resources, to the extent possible.

Washington State University (WSU) is committed to protecting academic freedom and upholding the scholarly expertise that faculty bring to their research and to their classroom.  Unfortunately, in the course of sharing research and knowledge through various public venues, faculty, students, and staff may be a risk for manufactured outrage (Kamola 2019) and subject to harassment, particularly online (Yarbrough et al. 2023). Cremins 2024 provides a broader perspective to how universities can respond to doxxing and other nefarious activities.

Research shows that harassment via online media has a detrimental effect on scholars and impairs free speech, particularly for women, gender non-binary people, queer people and racialized scholars. They are more likely to not only have their research attacked but to be attacked personally. This treatment or the potential for such treatment reduces scholars’ willingness to take part in publicity efforts featuring their work, especially with traditional media (Ketchum, 2020; AAC&U 2025), with a wide range of documented health consequences.

In addition to the reporting options listed in the below sections, faculty are encouraged to report online or cyber harassment to the Office of the Provost at provost@wsu.edu. This is not required, but by providing this information, WSU leadership will have a better idea of the extent and frequency of these events, which may inform development of additional resources.

In addition to the resource options listed in the below sections, faculty may find these additional resources helpful:

Provide the administrator or security professional with an overview of the situation and your concerns

  • Describe the incident with relevant details.
  • When did the initial incident begin?
  • Is it connected to something specific, such as an article, appearance, expert commentary, social media post, etc.?
  • What platforms are you being harassed on?

Preserve and share any relevant evidence

While it may seem counterintuitive to hold onto messages or posts that are upsetting, it can be helpful for relevant offices to have evidence of a online harassment, particularly one involving threats.

  • Save any emails, voicemails, or text messages you receive in their original form (e.g. don’t take a screenshot of an email, save the email in its .msg format).
  • Take screenshots or photos of comments on social media; because such comments can be deleted, screenshots are often useful to help document them.

Take care of yourself

Online harassment of any kind can be incredibly stressful and may have a lasting impact.  In addition to support available through the University or law enforcement, the following actions may help individuals respond to a difficult situation occurring online:

  • Consider temporarily disabling your social media profiles or switching them to private, so only those you are connected to can post or comment. Although your first instinct may be to respond and defend yourself online, responding to harassing messages can tend to prolong and inflame incidents. Online attacks can be intense, but they are not usually sustained for long periods of time.
  • If you are being contacted by a member of the media, you always have a choice to speak with them or not. If you are receiving unwanted contact from the press, you may direct their inquiries to Pam Scott, vice president for system communications and strategy, at pam.scott@wsu.edu.
    • Tips if you feel that a public response is necessary
      • Stick to facts that are not open to interpretation.
      • Keep responses short, concise, and above all factual.
      • Correct inaccuracies and move on.
      • Resist becoming defensive or fighting fire with fire.
  • If harassment involves your WSU email account(s):
    • You can change your email settings to “only contacts.” This will filter your email and only known contacts or those with a @wsu.edu email address will appear in your inbox. All other emails will be forwarded to junk mail, so you will still have access to them, but they will not appear in your daily feed.
    • You can request to have your email address changed via Crimson Service Desk. Submit your request via the online request form (multi-factorial identification required). Select Other Request. In Summary enter “New email address due to safety concerns.” Scroll down to description and enter “I am experiencing harassment via email and need a new WSU email address” and/or any additional information related to your request.
  • You may request supportive measures, as appropriate, such as:
    • Request a temporary reassignment of workspace location, or other accommodations. Human Resources Services, Office of the Dean of Students, or Compliance and Civil Rights can provide assistance and guidance.
    •  Department directory information online can be updated or removed for privacy. Students may also restrict their directory information in the myWSU Student Center: Instructions to restrict information.
  • Faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize the Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential counseling and referral services. Additionally, individuals eligible for employee benefits offered through the university have counseling services available as part of their benefit package. Contact your benefit plan for additional information.
  • Students are encouraged to utilize Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS has confidential counselors at Cougar Health Services and are available to support you.
  • Compliance and Civil Rights (CCR) reviews and investigates complaints of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and sexual misconduct involving members of the University community. CCR is an excellent resource for learning about your options, even if you do not wish to formally report anything or move forward with an investigation process.
  • The Office of the University Ombuds serves as a confidential resource, and works to protect the interests, rights, and privileges of students, staff, and faculty at all levels of university operations and programs. The Ombuds office provides information relating to university policies and procedures and facilitates the resolution of problems and grievances through informal investigation and mediation when concerns involve members of the University community. The office does not replace or supersede other university grievances, complaint or appeal procedures.
  • Other steps you can take include:
    • Ignore: The goal of social media agitators is to elicit a response. In many cases, trolls move on if you ignore them long enough. In general, do not engage with the harasser. Consult with your campus security or other professionals on whether it is helpful to send a request to stop. Responses can encourage further contact or be used against you, so it is important to be cautious with engagement.
    • Mute: If what someone is saying about you online is causing you distress, you can change your settings to mute them.  The harassing party normally is not notified that you have muted them, and you can ignore their comments. If you are worried their comments may become threatening, ask a friend or colleague to check your feed on your behalf.
    • Block: Several social media platforms allow you to selectively prevent others from following you, seeing your posts, or commenting on your content. Please note that when you block someone, they may receive a notification or be able to see that you have blocked them, depending on the platform, and may choose to criticize you on their own channels.
    • Report: Reporting a user’s behavior to social media platforms could result in their account being suspended if they violated the platform’s guidelines. This strategy has limitations, as harassing messages might come from multiple accounts, making it difficult to pinpoint a culprit. Additionally, some posts might be harassing in nature but not violate specific platform guidelines.

There a several reporting paths available. Depending on your specific situation, you may benefit from contacting one or more of the below resources. Please read through this list carefully.

Direct threats

If you or those close to you are in imminent physical danger or there has been a direct threat of physical violence, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Criminal, threatening, or concerning behavior

States, including Washington, have written criminal laws to protect their residents against harassment and intimidation.  Washington state’s criminal code (RCW 9A.46) prohibits harassment, hate crimes, telephone harassment, cyberharassment, stalking, and violation of protective orders. For example, RCW 9A.90.120 defines the crime of cyberharassment as when a person “ with intent to harass or intimidate any other person” makes an electronic communication that “(1) uses any lewd, lascivious, indecent, or obscene words, images, or language…;(2) is made anonymously or repeatedly; (3) contains a threat to inflict bodily injury immediately or in the future…;(4) contains a threat to damage, immediately or in the future, the property of the person threatened or any other person; or (5) contains a threat to damage, immediately or in the future, the property of the person threatened or of any other person; and… would cause a reasonable person….to suffer emotional distress or to fear for the safety of the person threatened or reasonably caused the threatened person to suffer emotional distress or fear for the threatened person’s safety.” Please report to campus police or security for assistance with next steps:

Also, report to the WSU Threat Assessment Team, threat.assessment.team@wsu.edu. Even if you do not think there is an immediate threat of harm, it is helpful to report to this central team, which monitors threatening conduct across the system.

University Reporting Options

WSU can help arrange supportive or safety measures for you. Contacting one or more of the below offices can get your connected with help.

Tell your supervisor or student support staff

Employees, tell your supervisor:

  • Faculty, postdocs, and other academic appointees: contact your chair, dean or other direct supervisor.
  • Staff: contact your immediate supervisor or unit lead.

In addition to the reporting options listed in the below sections, faculty are encouraged to report online or cyber harassment to the Office of the Provost at provost.office@wsu.edu. This is not required, but by providing this information, WSU leadership will have a better idea of the extent and frequency of these events, which may inform development of additional resources.

Students, tell your student support staff:

Discriminatory harassment

For discriminatory online harassment based on a protected category such as sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical/mental/sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status, contact Compliance and Civil Rights:

Compliance and Civil Rights

Online: File a Report or Complaint

Email: ccr@wsu.edu

Phone: 509-335-8288

Nondiscriminatory harassment

For harassment that is not based on a protected class, contact:

Center for Community Standards

Contact the Center for Community Standards where the harasser is a WSU student.

Online report: Report an Incident

Phone: 509-335-4532

Email: community.standards@wsu.edu

Human Resource Services

Contact Human Resource Services where the harasser is a WSU employee.

Online report: Contact HRS

Phone: 509-335-4521

External Reporting Options

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

The mission of the Internet Crime Complaint Center is to provide the public with a reliable and convenient reporting mechanism to submit information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning suspected Internet-facilitated criminal activity and to develop effective alliances with law enforcement and industry partners. Information is analyzed and disseminated for investigative and intelligence purposes to law enforcement and for public awareness.

Seeking Immigration Help

Some members of the community may have questions about how abusive or harassing online conduct may affect their immigration status or prospects.  International students, faculty, and scholars can contact International Programs with concerns related to their immigration status.  

Legal Consultations

You may wish to pursue a civil harassment protection order. In Washington state, a civil protection order can be obtained for harassment, defined as “a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person” or “a single act of violence or threat of violence”  “that seriously alarms, annoys, harasses, or is detrimental to such person, and that serves no legitimate or lawful purpose.  The course of conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and must actually cause substantial emotional distress to the petitioner.” Protection orders differ by states. Employees are encouraged to seek legal consultation or visit with a free, confidential victim advocate to learn more about protection order availability.

You may wish to explore whether to pursue a legal civil complaint for online harassment.  In doing so, be sure to explore with your lawyer the benefits and risks of pursuing a legal claim, the cost of doing so, and the barriers to a successful claim. Employees may wish to start by accessing free legal consultation services through the Employee Assistance Program.  

External resources

Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse

Are you worried someone might share your intimate images online? Has this already happened to you?StopNCII.org helps remove non-consensual intimate images from the internet and prevents sharing of specific intimate images.

stopbullying.gov

StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.

National Cybersecurity Alliance

National Cybersecurity Alliance provides information and resources to educate and empower global digital society to use the Internet safely and securely. 

Cyber Civil Rights Initiative

The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative addresses how traumatic and distressing it can be to find your intimate images online when you didn’t consent to them being shared and works with all of the major social media and tech companies to provide you with a list of how to report this violation on all of their platforms.

Online Safety By Feminist Frequency

Feminist Frequency provides an online guide to staying safe online and preventing cyber harassment.

ADL Cyber Safety Action Guide

A quick reference guide on social media platform policies about hate and reporting information.

Take It Down

Take It Down can help you remove online nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photos and videos taken before you were 18.

Beyond helping the immediate victim(s) of harassment, recognize that harassment can expand to include the individual’s immediate department/program or their entire division/school, and it is important to prepare University employees in public-facing roles (any individual who answers calls, responds to emails, or manages social media channels, for example) who may have to engage with angry or upsetting messages. If other personnel are being targeted because of an ongoing incident of online harassment, administrators should follow the same approach as above:

  • Gather information about the incident
  • Collect and preserve evidence
  • Share resources
  • Inform local leadership staff are being targeted

Administrators should also ensure staff understand they are not required to be subjected to abuse and can end phone calls when it occurs.

When news of a colleague or student being harassed online gets out, other members of the academic community may wish to express their support; however, we want to give guidance on how to show support to ensure trolls are not further encouraged.

  • WSU typically advises against the use of public statements of support, as that can exacerbate the situation. Instead, advise colleagues and staff to reach out privately.
  • Sending a kind email, taking time to call, or grabbing a coffee are all ways to make the targeted individual feel supported and included in the community.

The impact of online harassment can be far reaching. Students may feel unsafe attending classes, instructors and staff may have concerns they will be targets too, and even current or former co-authors or collaborators might be impacted.

  • Prioritize safety – if there is a risk to the faculty member, staff, postdoc, other academic appointee and/or students, consider a safety assessment consultation with campus police or security, moving rooms, engaging a substitute, or temporarily moving the class online.
  • Consider adjusting webpages to reduce visibility (or eliminate) of victim information; generally, it is better if websites describing faculty, staff and students do not include any personal contact information that perpetrators can use to harass individuals.
  • Be empathetic – listen to concerns and provide resources as needed.
  • Be transparent – in some circumstances, WSU may not be able to identify the harasser or have authority to address the behavior.

Even after an incident has subsided, the impact it has on the target can be lasting, both personally and professionally. Stay in contact with the targeted individual to make sure they have access to the support they need, and work with them to find solutions.

It is important to note that while harassment of any kind can make individuals feel threatened and insecure, the content of attacks differ significantly across race, gender, sexuality, disability status, and religious affiliation. Attacks of this kind can profoundly impact a victim’s sense of security and belonging. The most important piece of managing an incident of online harassment, aside from protecting the targeted individual in the moment, is to ensure they have enough support that they still feel secure and empowered to do what they are at the University to do.