The resources in this page were created by organizations around the world working to address the problem of online harassment. They include crisis helplines, technical tools, and guides for the variety of situations that fall under the umbrella of “online harassment.” Whether you’re dealing with an active harassment situation, looking to proactively reduce the impact of harassment, or trying to prevent harassment, you’ll find something helpful below.
If you’re currently experiencing online harassment, being threatened, or being doxxed, here’s where you can get help right now.
Get support from a crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line in the US or its affiliates in the UK, CA, and IE. Available 24/7.
US: Text “HOME” to 741741
UK: Text ”SHOUT” to 85258
CA: Text ”HOME” to 741741
IE: Text “HOME” to 50808
Free, confidential, text message or WhatsApp based
Text “HELLO” to 510-674-1414 for support with workplace issues from Empower Work. Available 24/7.
Free, anonymous, text message based
Call the CCRI Crisis Helpline at 844-878-CCRI (2274). Available 24/7.
Free, phone based
Text “SUPPORT” to 23368 to get emotional support from the Games and Online Harassment Hotline. Available 3pm-7pm Pacific.
Free, confidential, text message based
We might be a little biased, but we love the digital safety app we’ve built. In it, you’ll find step-by-step guidance for the current best practices for your personal security. We’ve ordered the topics by importance, so you’ll tackle the most critical things first.
Right now, we offer the app through partner employers and organizations, but we’re working to offer it directly to individuals in the future. If you’re interested in getting the app just for you, sign up for our waitlist.
The Consumer Reports Security Planner is the best publicly available personal security guidance tool available today. It has incredible breadth and depth, covering critical topics such as:
iVerify is an iOS app that provides excellent device and account security guidance, security news, and threat detection. Download iVerify from the Apple App Store.
Online harassment can happen to anyone, and it can be hard to predict. There’s no limit to the number of reasons someone can suddenly become a target. However, some people are at elevated risk because of their identity, their profession, or their political position.
We encourage everyone to take a proactive approach to dealing with online harassment. By taking preventative action, you can mitigate the risk that online harassment might escalate to hacking and physical harm.
Below, you’ll find both resources created to support specific groups of high-risk people and more general guidance. Because the US has exceptionally poor privacy protections, some of these guides are US-focused. We’ve marked guide with broader, international guidance with an asterisk (*).
Harassment is intended to frighten you into silence, inaction, and isolation. That means taking care of your mind is vital for resisting online harassment.
If you don’t already have professional support, getting it might mean signing up for an online therapy service or using a directory like Psychology Today or Headway to find providers near you. If you work for a company, you may have access to an Employee Assistance Program or a similar service that makes accessing counseling and support easier.
We know that many people don’t have insurance coverage for mental healthcare or can’t afford the cost even if they have some form of coverage. Our friends at the Captain Awkward blog have an old but still relevant guide to finding low-cost mental healthcare in the US and Canada. They also have a great list of 14 Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Resources.
While it’s great to have professional support, there are things you can do on your own to take care of your mind when you’re dealing with online harassment. We like this guide from Online SOS.
Here’s a list of our favorite things to do. They might seem obvious, but we think it’s helpful to have a list to look at.
