As online guardrails are rolled back, companies and individuals are seeing a resurgence of online safety and cyberbullying issues. In the recent past, some of these issues could be raised with fact-checkers and nominated online safety guardians. Unfortunately, as social media platforms like Facebook and X eliminate third-party fact-checkers in favor of unfiltered speech, and Canada faces a leadership crisis at the top of government, the burden of staying safe and protecting others increasingly rests with individuals and internal corporate safety departments.
What’s the best path forward? There are three major behavioral and operational adaptations that need to happen as quickly as possible. If they can be swiftly implemented, companies and individuals should be able to protect themselves against the worst of online harassment and safety issues. It won’t be a perfect solution, but as the Internet moves more toward Wild West status, it’s a way of fighting back against the chaos, risk, and mental angst of the digital universe.
Designate Trusted Spaces But Be Aware of Their Limitations
Online spaces, ideally, would be welcoming, collaborative environments of information sharing and engaging discussion. This is true of the broader web but also of internal messaging boards and forums, where employees may feel especially shocked to experience the negativity, trolling, and harassment that reflects the worst bits of the Internet.
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