5 Ways to Handle Someone Picking On You in Social Media

This past month I received a DM ( direct message) on Twitter from a young man who was being bullied in Social Media.  At first I was not sure why he would contact me. Then he shared that he thought as a mom with 5 kids I might have some ideas on how to handle it. I looked in on what was being said about him. It did not matter to me if any of it was true or false. What mattered is a handful of people were publicly attacking this young man.   I shared with him 5 ways to handle someone picking on him in Social Media.

1.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
2.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
3.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
4.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
5.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.

I told him to completely ignore and don't respond to any comments or tweets linked to his name. I am happy to report that those who were bating him into these terrible tweets went away.  On the heals of this treatment the same happened in a group I am involved with.  Tweets being shared in a negative light on behalf of a group of women. It was not just one person. It was a small handful of people.  It was not easy to see, but then I had to do the same. Ignore, don't respond & block.

Social Media has given people a platform to pick on others. It's sad to watch, and sad when it happens to you.  It's hard to look away and go about your business.  But you must.  I know for the times when I have been picked on. I have had to do the same. Ignore it and don't respond. I personally block all those who engage and join in to such behaviors.

People who put this kind of stuff on a public forum are attention seeking.  It also reveals their true character and sadly affects their own communities in a negative way. Imagine if they are tweeting that about someone who offended them, what they might tweet if you offend them.  No one wants this kind of attention, so quietly people watch, in horror, but say or do nothing to defend the person being attacked.  I agree as those who are bold enough to be tweeting out negative things about another will surely do the same to those who come to defend.

My husband, who comes from years of a therapist back ground has always said you can not argue with a crazy person. No matter how right you may think you are, that person tweeting crazy things will continue as long as they are getting attention.

Pretty hard to ignore when it's hurtful. Pretty hard to ignore when you want to be able to speak what is right and true.  Someone who is speaking ill-will of you is bating you. That bating sucks you into being on the defensive and even your best efforts to defend yourself or a friend only fuels the person who is picking on you.  The best thing to do.....

1.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
2.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
3.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
4.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
5.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.

Social Media, especially Twitter is like a cocktail party. A room full of lots people. Imagine if one person stood in the middle of the room and started ranting about your character.  Do you jump into the center and try to defend yourself or do you slip to the back of the room?  

1.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
2.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
3.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
4.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.
5.  Ignore it, don't respond & block.

I slip to the back of the room, and carry on.  In doing so, you give nothing in return to the person broadcasting discontent of you.  How you handle this kind of situation is the same in real time as online.  It is also how I am teaching my own children.  For those looking in, and believe me, in a public forum like this, others are watching. YOU speak to your character by how you do or do not respond.

I hope this is helpful.  We as parents, must educate and teach our children the confidences and the boldness to just walk away. Ain't nobody got time for that.