We have a zero tolerance policy for abuse and cyberbullying—because we all agree that cyberbullying sucks. Users are responsible for the content they display and disseminate on their .SUCKS domain, so it’s crucial to be aware of what is and isn’t allowed.
What Counts as Cyberbullying?
Most people know that bullying is wrong, and in some cases—such as death threats and sexual harassment—even illegal. But not everyone understands what cyberbullying is, or the negative affect it can have on individuals. Simply put, cyberbullying is bullying that takes place on electronic technology. It involves sending mean text messages or emails, spreading rumors through social channels, posting intentionally embarrassing or harming photos or information on another individual, dedicating websites to tarnishing someone’s reputation or causing emotional harm and creating fake profiles pretending to be another person.
From Twitter trolling to masquerading and catfishing, cyberbullying can cause psychological harm—which is why we need to work together to prevent and rectify instances of it whenever we can.
If you feel that you or your child is being unfairly targeted in a way that breaches our Abuse Procedures and Policies, you can file a takedown report with Vox Populi Registry to instigate a review of the offending domain. You can also read our Abuse and Takedown Policies and Procedures for a complete picture of where we stand on these important issues.
Cyberbullying is on the Rise
A 2016 study by the Cyberbullying Research Center found that 33.8% of students between the ages of 12 and 17 had experienced some form of cyberbullying. While parents and educators need to do their best to ensure their kids are using the internet responsibly, cyberbullying can be incredibly hard to control. The prevalence of digital communication and connectivity means that it is rarely a viable solution to expect victims to just log off. The big players of the web need to do their parts to make sure that hate email, smear campaigns, social media flaming and all other methods of online bullying are discouraged and penalized.
Using .SUCKS for Good
We hope to foster a digital environment where people can speak their minds and feel heard—without resorting to trolling and cyberbullying. A .SUCKS domain can be used for customer-driven advocacy, debate, communicating different ideas and viewpoints and reasonable critiques. We want to support a world where people are heard and cared for, not one that encourages malicious attacks and demeaning interactions. There is always a way to be proactive, productive and prolific without swinging below the belt.
If you want to help put an end to cyberbullying, a domain like Bullying.Sucks can be a great central platform to share personal stories, advice to parents and youth and resources for interested parties. You can help become an advocate for change and promote a world—online and off—where everyone feels valued and safe.
Have more to say on this issue? Start the conversation you want to be having online with a custom .SUCKS domain.
Photo: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images
