Resources Available to Community Members

Resources Available to Community Members

Online spaces are part of campus life; when harmful interactions occur online, the impact does not stay online.

While some individuals use online spaces (including anonymous platforms) to find connection through shared humor or venting, some individuals also experience the stress of navigating how to respond if harm occurs in an anonymous space. It can be challenging to know options for stepping in, providing or receiving support, or seeking accountability.

We encourage our community members to be mindful and intentional about engaging in spaces that are supportive and respectful. It is worth being thoughtful about how much time, attention, and credibility is spent on anonymous platforms. Ongoing exposure to harmful, inaccurate, or distressing content can damage mental and emotional wellbeing, even when the content is possibly (or obviously) untrue. Prioritizing wellness may mean setting boundaries and seeking resources.

It is also important for students to practice their personal agency—to identify how and when to speak up on behalf of themselves or another person when something harmful occurs.

Find Resources

Supportive spaces, educational information, and confidential resources are available to Messiah University students and employees. You can get help for you or a friend if online content and interactions are impacting your well-being or sense of safety:

Other Resources

Bystander Intervention information—skills and techniques for helping make online spaces safer.  

Thinking about your internet boundaries? Check out this article—Internet Boundaries: What are They and How to Create Them—or these guidelines to stay safer on social media.