How to report and block abuse on your phone and online
November 14, 2017
When it comes to talking, the arrival of mobile phones, then social media, then social messaging has opened a world of possibility to us. No matter where we are, we can network, chat and just generally stay in touch with family, friends and strangers alike – all over the world.
But opening up these amazing avenues of communication does have a flipside. If every amazing development in digital communication had a book written about it, each would come with a cautionary chapter titled “When Good Tech Times Turn Bad.” If someone is making your life unpleasant on social media or by phone, here’s how to GET RID.
How to block someone from calling or texting
If you’re getting unwanted calls or texts from someone, you can bar them from contacting you. They can’t call or text you – you’ll be unreachable to this person.
On your iPhone
Open up your Contacts app and open this person’s details.
Scroll to the bottom and click ‘Block contact’.
On your Samsung
Open up your Contacts for this person.
Scroll to the bottom and click ‘Add to auto-reject list’.
On your Huawei
Open up your Contacts for this person.
Scroll to the bottom and click ‘Add to Blacklist’.
On your LG
To block calls, open your Phone app, then tap the three dots icon and select ‘Call Settings’.
Select ‘Call Blocking & Decline With Message’’ then tap the plus button, then select the number you want to block. If someone has just called you, you can long-press on that number than select ‘Block Number’, then ‘BLOCK’.
To block texts, open the Messaging app. Tap Menu, then select ‘Settings’, then ‘General’.
Tap ‘Blocked numbers’, then ‘Add’ and
On your Motorola
To block calls, open up your Contacts for this person. Select ‘Edit’.
Tap on the 3 dots icon, then select ‘All calls to voicemail’.
To block texts, open Hangouts or Messenger, then open the conversation with the person you want to block.
Tap on the 3 dots to open the Menu, then select ‘People & Options’. You can then tap on ‘Block’.
How to block someone on WhatsApp
Tap on the conversation with the person you want to block, then tap on the 3 dots icon at the top right hand corner of the screen.
Select ‘More’, then tap ‘Block’.
How to deal with unwanted contact on Twitter
The public nature of Twitter means anyone can talk to you directly. If things get unpleasant you can either report a Tweet or block the Tweeter.
How to report abuse
If you want to report a Tweet, click on the arrow at its top right corner. Select ‘Report’ from the drop-down menu and follow the instructions.
How to block someone
Open that person’s Twitter profile. You’ll see the 3 dots icon to the right of the button that says ‘Follow’ – tap there and select the ‘Block @username’ option.
How to deal with unwanted contact on Facebook
There are all kinds of privacy settings you can use to keep someone at arm’s length on Facebook. Just like Twitter and Instagram, you can take one of two courses of action, or both: report what someone has written, or block the person entirely.
How to report abuse
If someone has posted something that’s abusive or threatening you can report it to Facebook. Tap on the 3 dots icon to the top right corner of a post or long-press on a comment, then select ‘Report’. Follow the instructions, then Facebook will let you know their verdict a day or two later. Quite often they’ll advise you to block the poster.
How to block someone
Whether you’re Facebook friends or not, if someone is giving you grief with their messages, comments or posts blocking them will prevent them from contacting you again. They pretty much vanish from your timeline.
Go to that person’s profile page. Below their name you’ll see buttons that say ‘Hello’ and ‘Message’ – to the right will be the 3 dots icon. Tap this and select ‘Block’ from the drop-down menu.
How to deal with unwanted contact on Instagram
While Instagram isn’t exactly the hotbed of simmering tension that is Facebook, it’s still possible to encounter unpleasant posts and comments. And just like Facebook, you can report individual comments or block the commenter.
How to report abuse
If you think someone’s post is abusive, tap on the three dots, select ‘Report’ then ‘It’s inappropriate’ and follow the instructions.
If you think someone’s comment under your post is abusive, long-press on it then tap the ‘!’ button and follow the instructions.
How to block someone
Go to the Instagram profile of the person you want to block. Tap on the 3 dots icon to the right of their name. From this menu, tap ‘Block’.