Harassment

Harassment is hostile behavior directed at a specific person with the effect of intimidating, demeaning, or driving them out of a space. It is distinguished by its target: unlike general toxicity, harassment is aimed at an individual, often repeatedly.

What it means

Harassment can be a single severe message or a sustained campaign. It includes targeted insults, threats, unwanted repeated contact, and coordinated pile-ons where many users attack one person. Because it is defined by who it targets and its cumulative effect, context matters enormously. The same phrase can be banter between friends or a weapon aimed at someone who wants it to stop.

Real-world examples

• Following a user across channels to repeat the same demeaning comment.
• Organizing a group to mass-reply against one member.
• Repeated unwanted messages after someone has asked a person to stop.
• Mocking a specific user's appearance, identity, or personal circumstances.

Why it matters

Harassment is one of the most damaging things that can happen in a community because it drives real harm to a specific person and, when unaddressed, signals to everyone that the space is unsafe. Detecting it well requires understanding targeting and intent, and often the surrounding conversation, since a single message viewed in isolation can look harmless. It overlaps with toxicity and hate speech but is specifically about a targeted individual.