What is Doxing?
As parents we are all aware of the prevalence of social media and implications of a constant online presence in the lives of young people. The recent spotlight on the tragic case of Brianna Ghey shows some of the worst consequences of that virtual existence. Many parents for example will not be shocked by the recent research published by the Internet Watch Foundation showing that 25% of teens have received unwanted sexual messages online. Fewer parents however may be able to give a comprehensive explanation of doxing, and how to mitigate the risks involved
Doxing is the practice of revealing private information about an individual, without their consent and with the intent to cause distress. Often the information shared has been collected across a number of media platforms. Doxing can be motivated by a range of intents including intimidation or harassment. It can also be a precursor to extortion.
Whilst bad enough online, there are times when doxing creates real world harm, promoting intimidation, violence or worse.
The only protection against doxing is to think about the amount of information being shared online, not just on one platform, but across platforms. A regular review of your child's privacy and visibility settings is vital, as is maintaining a dialogue about online activity.
At the end of last year, a TikTok account purporting to be for fans of Taylor Swift used readily available facial recognition technology to dox random users of this seemingly innocuous site. It may be time to accept the claim made by several media commentators that privacy of any kind no longer exists in public spaces. The only way to avoid this risk is to think very carefully about sharing any information online.
For further information on issues raised in this article:
https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/what-is-doxing-a-guide-for-professionals-parents-and-carers/