People experiencing gender-based violence may have violence directed towards them online or through social media. Survivors may decide that it is safe and helpful to report an account or post. Here’s how to report someone’s inappropriate or violent activity.
This video uses an iPhone, but the steps are very similar on other phones. There are many platforms that you can report accounts and content on, but this video will cover two: instagram and facebook.
Step 1
To report someone on Facebook, open your app .
Step 2
You can report a whole page, a post on someone’s page, or a post in your feed. In all three cases, look for three dots at the top of the post or page. Click on these dots.
Step 3
Look for a speech bubble or circle with an exclamation point- it should say something like “Report profile”, “report post”, or “report photo”. Click this icon.
Step 4
Next, you will be prompted to go through the reporting process. Follow the prompts the page provides you- Depending on what you report, you may be asked to provide more information about what you’re reporting, or who the violence is happening to.
Step 5
If you are reporting a post, there are two ways to report. First, you can choose to report without adding more information, which might take the company longer to investigate. The second way to report is to choose “add information” and select the reason you are reporting. You might, for example, select “harassment” or nudity”.
Step 6
Continue to follow the prompts on each menu page. You will be asked to tap “submit” to finish your report- after choosing “submit”, you should see a “thank you” page with a green check mark and a timeline that shows you the reporting process.
Step 7
On this page, you can make other privacy adjustments if you would like. You might need to hit “next” to move to a page where you can make privacy settings changes. When you are finished, tap “done” at the bottom of the page.
Because instagram and facebook are both operated by Meta, their processes to report are the same.
Step 1
To report someone on instagram, open the app.
Step 2
At the top of their page or the top of their post, look for three dots. Click on these dots.
Step 3
Instagram also uses a speech bubble with a red exclamation point as the icon for reporting. Tap “report” and choose the reason you are reporting. If you are reporting an account, you can choose to report “a specific post” or “something about this account”- choose which option you’d like, and follow the menu prompts.
Step 4
Next, tap “submit report”. You should see a “thanks for reporting” page, with a check mark- just like on Facebook. Tap next at the bottom of this page.
Step 5
On the next page, you can make other changes to your settings. Once you’re done reporting, swipe down from the top of your screen to exit.
Before reporting an account or post, think through potential safety risks. Consider if your device is being monitored by an abuser and whether violence will escalate if the abuser is alerted to your activity. You may want to preserve digital evidence before reporting, so that you have a record of the abuse. You can connect with an anti-violence worker who can help you come up with a safety plan.
It’s possible to use technology safely. You don’t have to give up your devices or online presence if tech-facilitated violence is happening to you. It is not your fault. You are not alone. Visit BCSTH.ca to find a safe confidential support service in your community.