Trick the trolls: Queer creators on how they manage online negativity

In 2023 on November 21 16yearold queer makeup artist Pranshu died by suicide Pranshursquos family and friends are convinced that he was a victim of cyberbullying as he used to post pictures of himself online with makeup dressed up in saris and other traditional wear Ever since the incident queer creators are trying to turn the tide with smart strategies to protect their mental wellbeing while embracing their authentic selves Here are few tips and tricks from queer influencers who are at the forefront of tackling online hate and spreading positivitylsquoReport it to the cyber cellrsquoVinnie Gollar a nonbinary transgender creator and influencer on Instagram based in Mumbai brings a diverse range of content to her audience From Get Ready With Me videos and fashion hauls to dance reels Vinnie uses their platform to celebrate individuality and selfexpressionWhen facing online harassment or misuse of content Vinnie recommends keeping detailed records of all evidence and reporting it through the official country cyber cell portal ldquoI used to file cybercrime complaints frequently The cyber cell website allows you to report using screenshots and profile links of the offending postsrdquo Vinnie advises stressing the importance of preserving this evidence In Vinniersquos experience after submitting the complaint it needed to be converted into a charge sheet at the nearest police station within 48 hours Authorities then utilised the IP address to track and hold the harassers accountable The process of lodging the complaint are simple One needs to write a summary of the incident they want to report with all the details such as screenshots profile links post links etc being attached You will also need to fill in your details like phone number and email ldquoAt first the police seemed hesitant to respond to some of the incidents but after repeatedly reporting multiple bullying attacks they began to take me more seriously and cooperated The police mentioned that many bullies use VPNs making it harder to trace them but in my case I was fortunate enough to track them down Despite the challenges I still encourage people to file a complaintmdashyou never know you might also be able to find your harassersrdquolsquoFilter and blockrsquoPriyanjul Johri a gay content creator from Pune has gained recognition for his humorous reels and memes that delve into queer topics and beyond His Instagram 141269 features a mix of relatable content and his personal experiences as a queer personOne key method he employs is filtering responses on Instagram by allowing only the people he follows to reply to his stories thereby reducing the influx of hateful and inappropriate messages As Johri explains ldquoFor example I may have 15000 followers but I donrsquot allow all 15000 to respond Too often the messages are hateful and overly sexual so Irsquove filtered that outrdquoHe emphasises the importance of not engaging with negative comments noting that ldquointeracting with negativity can fuel further harassmentrdquo and thus simply not responding is a powerful tool for protecting mental health Johri also highlights the effectiveness of blocking users as a form of selfcare stating ldquoI want people to know You donrsquot have to engage in witty comebacks It might work for some people but it might not work for yourdquolsquoUse AI to give a fitting replyrsquoPatruni Sastry a creator based in Mumbai also known on Instagram as sas3dancingfeet has carved a niche in the digital space with a mix of queer content on drag bisexuality and queer parenthood An innovative way Patruni is combating bullies is by leveraging technology to manage online hate more effectively They utilise AI to craft responses to negative comments stating ldquoI donrsquot have to read a hate comment I can just copy it and ask AI to give a fitting reply This saves time and mental sanityrdquo This allows them to handle trolls without becoming emotionally drained focusing their energy on creating positive content instead Despite filing numerous reports and flagging inappropriate comments Patruni notes that the platform often fails to act making AI a practical tool for managing online negativityVisit the cyber cell website at httpscybercrimegovinAlso Read Mental health experts share effective programs to foster inclusivity for LGBTQ students in school