Homophobic Trolling - Warning adult content!

Today I am writing about something I find really challenging to deal with, online homophobia and hate speak. Recently, I have seen a massive increase in abuse online, both aimed at celebrities, but also in young people who are really not equipped to deal with their own emotions, never mind the malicious comments being sent their way.

Yesterday, anyone who follows Boy George on Twitter will have seen absolute carnage, yes, the lovely George is not always the most subtle or discrete, but surely nothing gives the right to post such sick posts?

“there's no cure for aids so hurry up and die you c**t!” or “I hate you, loser! And you will not answer me because you're a fag coward! you bastard!”

The only saving grace being George’s Acerbic wit, my favourite retort being  “Now imagine these people with guns or any kind of power!? Isn't it a frightening thought?” The strange thing about this whole thread was that it was in response to a fairly innocuous comment he made about Lady Gaga, and most of the comments made by her “fans”, not sure she would approve somehow.

At the end of the day, George is a middle aged man (sorry George), who has built up the strength and resilience to ignore or fight this (and didn’t he just!). The victims we hear about are not. A charming website which encourages anonymous posts of gossip (shan’t waste my breath saying the name again...) features hundreds of these posts, by complete cowards who are not prepared to say it face to face, but are willing to post online. Today’s top picks include;-

 “He's gay I heard he came out and had anal - now he has a girlfriend! Bloody greedy”

“Total **k sucking faggot”

“is a f****ing leza she needs to get a life or just slit her wrists...”

Hhhmmm.

There is some good news though – many of you may have seen the recent C4 TV programme “My Transsexual Summer”? I asked the boys on Twitter whether they had received any abuse online since the show was aired, thankfully the answer was a resounding NO.

Max said “nooo I haven't- the tweeters are like my children”, Fox told me some people had made ignorant comments which were rude, but not abusive (although being told you are hot is never that bad eh, Fox?), and Lewis said he hadn’t either, so far! On the whole, I think the boys are a) massively popular, and b) very lucky. Let’s see what happens as their celebrity and online presence grows.

The “Trolling” phenomenon seems to be growing, but come on everyone, some people are different, get over it. It’s 2012 for goodness sake...

“There's this illusion that homosexuals have sex and heterosexuals fall in love. That's completely untrue. Everybody wants to be loved. ~Boy George”

E-Safety Rules 101

What is the final sentence at most e-safety training sessions? “Go home and Google yourselves”.

Why is it then, that very few of us do? Let this be a stark warning, the last few cases I have dealt with at the Helpline have all been accidently found out by random Google checks, one following an e-safety training session!

In all these cases, the individuals involved were proud of their lack of digital footprint, and had never seen the need to search for their online presence.

One lady was informed by a potential future employer that there were uncomplimentary comments on a website, another’s husband Googled her for a joke and found them, and the latest one? Following an e-safety session at work, she Googled herself, only to find an ex partner had posted compromising photos of her online. She was lucky and was able to have the pictures removed immediately before any lasting damage was done.

It is a simple thing, but “knowledge is power” and the earlier we discover these online issues, the quicker we can resolve them.

So, all together now, “when you get home later, please Google yourselves”...  (And actually do it!)

What to do if you are the victim of a phishing attack...

Ok, so most people are savvy enough not to fall for this type of phishing attack (taken from my own junk email account) –

"Dear PayPal Costumer,

It has come to our attention that your PayPal^®account information needs to be updated as part of our continuing commitment to protect your account and to reduce the instance of fraud on our website. If you could please take 5-10 minutes out of your online experience and update your personal records you will not run into any future problems with the online service.

However, failure to update your records will result in account suspension. Please update your records before August 15, 2011

Once you have updated your account records, your PayPal^®account activity will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.

Click here to update your PayPal account information"

However, these scams are still on the increase, as are the number of victims.  It is estimated that 1 in 4 adults in the UK will be a victim of identity theft at some point. These phishing attempts differ in intent, with ID theft for financial gain (such as taking out loans in another persons name), illegal intent such as producing fake passports, hacking, keystroke logging to steal passwords, or for laying Trojans and malware, being just a few.  These criminals are clever, often disguising the fakes very well, a recent case we heard of was an email link to a website made to look like a job search site, sadly the person who received it was job hunting and in their eagerness gave away some personal information before they realised what had happened.

Here is some advice we gave to that victim;-

·         Here is a link to the leading UK Identity Theft website, which is run by the Home Office. It contains statistics and general information, as well as advice for victims of cyber crime.  You may find the information here helpful. http://www.identitytheft.org.uk/faqs.asp

·         You can report the details of the fake site here http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/ 

·          In addition to this it may be prudent to make a report to the local Police, in case you become a victim of identity theft or fraud.

·         Change all your passwords for online accounts in case there is a risk of “keystroke logging”, basically this is where a Trojan is left on your PC which monitors and records particular key patterns, they are designed to pick up repeated codes such as passwords, and pin numbers for online banking.

·         Notify any relevant official departments of information which may have been stolen, eg DVLA, Passport Office etc.

·         Notify one of the Credit Agencies (Experian or Equifax) to log a “Fraud report” against your name. This will help prevent any difficulties in the future. You only need to contact one as they will share the information with the others.

·         Ensure you monitor any accounts you use, including social networking sites, for any unusual activity.

·         Always check the URL of a website to see if it looks genuine.

·          Use strong passwords which are changed frequently.

·         Install good anti phishing and spam filters on your PC to help prevent future incidents.

·         There is some very useful information on http://www.chatdanger.com/email/spam.aspx addressing online protection for young people.

Some of this advice may seem obvious. I feel however, if it was that obvious the number of victims wouldn’t be on the increase. Please be cautious...

Here is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to keep abreast of new phishing or online security risks http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/.  To quote Hill Street Blues – “Hey, let's be careful out there”...

Why would you want to chat to random strangers?

There has been an increase in the use of sites which enable complete strangers to chat either anonymously, or via webcam. Many of you will have heard of chatroulette, allegedly used by celebrities (Kate Moss, Paris Hilton, Ashton Kutcher and Justin Bieber have been seen on them, some fakes, some allegedly real) but as the popularity, and notoriety of these sites grow, so has the list of sites providing the service. At last count I found over 30 sites, most of which offer complete anonymity as the user is not required to register any details. Fine as long as you’re happy with your screen shots being shared on random websites across the world...

These sites say they are aimed at the 18+ market, however they do not generally adhere to this, in fact there is a rather famous user of chatroulette who is labelled as “Offensive 8 year old”. One site has a very strict policy on the log in page – “18+, keep it clean, or be reported”. Ok, that’s clear enough, except the site is un-moderated and I haven’t found a way to report yet...

Mashable, the American Internet News website published a story in March 2010, which stated that a mash up of Google Maps had been created which would take a screen grab of chatroulette users, then use their IP address to add their location to chatroulette maps. I’m not sure this is a good way of protecting any younger or vulnerable users, even with an 18+ caveat it seems obvious to me that an 18 year girl experimenting by flashing her boobs on a webcam would be at risk if anyone watching had her address?

There are many people using these sites purely for 5 minutes of showing off to a complete stranger, whether that be their privates, singing a song, or dressing up as Darth Vadar. And I would suggest that most people who use these sites are over 18, open minded and wouldn’t be shocked by what they saw. In fact I have seen a chat room conversation between some University students who use one of these sites as the format for a unique drinking game, they take it in turns to sit at the webcam, and each time a nude person flashes up they down a shot. Inappropriate? Yes. Hilarious entertainment for a room full of 20 year old lads? Definitely.

The downside is that under 18’s ARE using these sites and come into contact with inappropriate sights, and people most parents wouldn’t want their children talking to. What advice would we give to the parents of these kids? Talk to them openly about the risks and follow the usual advice about privacy etc. It’s fine to let young people have computers in their rooms provided parents are confident of their safe internet practice. I would however suggest it may be prudent that you do not let them have an active webcam...

Article by Laura Higgins – Helpline Manager

July 2011

Is it really possible to keep kids safe online?

At the Professionals Online Safety Helpline, I am often asked to endorse products or sites which have been designed to keep kids safe online. There is a burgeoning rise in Social Networking sites designed for under 13’s, (or for over 13’s whose parents are still worried about the evils of Facebook), and safety products to eliminate cyber-bullying.

But do they work?

There are so many new products, it is hard to keep abreast of quality and value.  Many iphone apps for blocking unwanted contacts are free, however the most promoted are the chargeable ones, are they any better? There are now numerous products which flag up potential bullying or inappropriate language on Social Networking sites, however these are only as good as the people updating the software that inputs words to flag up. I have two children and work in Internet Safety, not a day passes when I don’t have to reach for the “Teenage Bullying Language Encyclopedia” for reference. These products do serve a purpose however, in providing some reassurance to parents and educators that they are “doing” something to help. I see no harm provided they are not relied upon as infallible tools.

The biggest rise both here and in the USA, is with new Social Networking sites. I have read about so many who claim to be “The new Facebook”. Really? Facebook has more than 750 million active users, most of these new sites have more like 600 users. Sadly, the things which make these appeal to anxious parents, are exactly what would put off a young person from using them. Many require parental control, and allow your parents to see all your posts, or at least those which the site feels it should share, many do not allow friend requests without showing parents first, some do not allow real photos, only avatars, and others use guided communication, only allowing youngsters to update their status using words pre-selected by the site. Boring! There is a reason there are so many underage users of social networking sites, it is exciting and makes the young person feel more mature. Sticking to an age appropriate site may not have the same allure. I wonder how many of those with accounts on these safe sites, also secretly have Facebook accounts?

I think the worst sin committed is in patronising young people. This comment from a new site sums it up perfectly - “tell your friends what you're doing (...just like the older kids do!)”. Hhmm.

There are some amazing Social Networking sites for younger internet users, but they are not trying to recreate Facebook. They are fun sites, where children can interact with others and play games, preparing them for when they ARE old enough to have a Facebook account.

Article written by Laura Higgins - Helpline Manager

August 2011

South West Grid for Learning wins again!

This time, 360° Safe has won the ‘Making the Internet Safer’ Award from Nominet. 360° Safe has been incredibly successful already, having won several of the biggest IT awards in the UK, the prestigious BETT Award for “Leadership and Management Solutions”, and the ISPA (Internet Services Providers' Association) Award for “Internet Safety”.
360° Safe is a groundbreaking, well-designed, user friendly, online tool for schools to review their e-safety provision. It identifies strengths and weaknesses and enables schools to develop an improvement plan. It is entirely free of charge for schools in the UK, and is currently being used by over 1750 establishments. It has now been adapted by The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (I-Keepsafe) in the USA as a new product - Generation Safe. This new version is being successfully piloted in the United States of America, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and China.

Most exciting of all, our Development Team are busy working on a new “top secret” product, taking 360° Safe to the next level. Watch this space...

What we love about the internet...

There are so many bad news stories in the media about the internet and the evils which lurk there. For a change, I wanted to highlight some of the fantastic things we know about it;-

·         A woman who lives in Scotland who reads her grandchildren a bedtime story via Skype each night. Simple and lovely.

·         Who could imagine keeping in touch with friends and family around the world without the wonder of Facebook? I have friends in (deep breath);-

Spain, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, France, Malaysia, Brazil, Egypt, USA, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Philippines, Australia, Syria, Dubai, Israel.

And of course England. How on earth would we ever chat or share photos?

·         Learning. Everyday. Did you know that the strawberry is part of the rose family? Or that “Rhythm" is the longest English word without a vowel? How many times have you said “Google it”?

·         Internet Dating. Well, it works for some people.

·         Shopping in your pyjamas.

For young people it is their world, and a place to grow, learn, socialise, shop, play, date and all the normal things they should be doing.  Equip them with the tools and wisdom to make sensible (ish) decisions, and let them experience it in all its glory.

What does a cyber-bully look like?

Approximately 50% of the cases we deal with at the Professionals Online Safety Helpline are related to cyber-bullying. Perhaps this is not a surprise to many, with these types of stories becoming commonplace in the media. You only need to see the many pages of coverage which have been attributed to the suicide of 15-year-old Natasha MacBryde, who is the most recent high profile victim of severe cyber-bullying.

At the Helpline we have supported many victims of cyber-bullying, who range in age from children to professionals in their 50’s. But who is responsible for these cases? The short answer is it could be anyone. The perpetrators have been other pupils at school who either publicly or anonymously post hateful comments. They have been parents of “wronged” children who start a campaign against both the school and specific staff who work there, and there have been cases where colleagues bully each other via social networking sites. There is no typical bully. Yes, girls can be mean. But boys are now more likely statistically to use online forums to bully or harass others. Young people often act without thinking, which as we know, in the online world means a very wide audience can read about what should be no more than a falling out between friends. And of course, once posted, it is there forever. The biggest group of bullies are those who do so unintentionally. It is easy to get swept along with a thread online, and to vent your own frustrations, without thinking about the effect this will have on the victim. Cyber-bullying is less personal than physical bullying and we often hear from perpetrators that they have mentally “de-humanised” the victim. It is a wakeup call when they realise the true extent their behaviour is having. 

Poor Natasha was a bright, pretty and popular student, and was part of the clique which ended up bullying her. I am sure they truly regret their actions and wish they could retract them. Sadly for all concerned it is too late.

With more education, and a commitment from all involved in the digital world, we can help to fight cyber-bullying before it claims another Natasha...

Sssh. Little Gossip is back...

Little Gossip is, as the providers put it “an open platform for users to share gossips.” It was initially launched in November 2010, by a 19 year old from Somerset. After four days he sold the site for less than his start up costs. He said at the time this was due to the abuse on the site. He did not envisage it becoming as popular or as nasty as it was. The new owners were a company based in Belize, and therefore not governed by our UK Libel laws.

The site was intended for over 18’s and was launched in colleges and universities across the UK. It came under fire quickly for not excluding schools from its site, and as a result of sustained adverse media coverage the site was closed on 14^th February 2011.

Sadly in June 2011, the site returned and is as cruel and vindictive as ever. Users can post malicious gossip about anyone in their college or university, other users then vote on whether they think it is true or false. The only way users can ask for a comment to be removed is by replacing it with their own piece of gossip, thereby perpetuating the cycle of bullying online.

The site clearly states it will not filter content, and is un-moderated. It has the usual statement about not bullying or harassing users with hate speech or threats, but does not actually take action on anyone for doing so.  In fact the only responsible advice to be found on the site says “notify the Police in case something has gone beyond the scope of an interpersonal conflict into threats that represent actual danger”, worrying that they feel the need to add this to their site!

The site is littered with thousands of sexually abusive, threatening, racist, and homophobic comments.  Here are some real examples of comments:-

black sket (Sket definition – “young girls who frequently sleep around with random guys without a care for morals or dignity.”) needs to be kicked in the c**t and murdered in front of her familys eyes

HARIBO KID - your out of the bolney boys, take more steroids you diego

biggest man wh*re out there, will literally do anything with a pulse. and appaz he f**ked a guy on his rugby team and caught an sti.

john johnstone likes beating little boys

Interestingly, one college I randomly looked up is obviously moderating comments internally as many abusive comments have been reported, and there are also comments about external action which can be taken against perpetrators by tracing IP addresses.

And of the age limit? There are still lots of schools on the site. Trust me, I know. My old school is on it...

Article by Laura Higgins - Helpline Manager

June 2011