Advice, please, on limiting malicious damage on social media

[whatwasIgoingtosay]

A couple of charities I'm involved with have been targeted by people I can only describe as evil, who have been posting outright lies on social media and whipping up outrage and fury against the good and selfless workers who promote the charities' good causes. These charities are medium-sized, totally mainstream and there is absolutely no truth whatever in the posts on SM. Legal advice has been taken, FB has been complained to, but it seems there is very little that can be done to prevent further attacks. Reputational damage has been sustained. What's the best way of dealing with such attacks? One charity has taken the moral high ground and refused to engage - but that hasn't stopped the attacks. The other has put out a formal statement to clarify its position, but again the attacks won't stop. A great deal of distress and damage has been caused. Why do people do such things?

Not sure what you expect MN to do that lawyers and FB management can’t do! 🤷‍♀️

As upsetting as it is if it’s any reassurance most other SM users can spot the nutters and trolls a mile off and just don’t take any notice. Ignore them

I suppose you have your answer really. Saying nothing makes no difference and putting out a statement makes no difference. Often these things run out of steam on their own and people get bored and find another hobby. It may be the case that you just have to wait it out and not engage long enough that they just move on.

Thanks - but the damage to the finances (grant funders spooked) and reputation of the charities is terrible. And some of these nutters and trolls have been at it for, literally, years. They have real stamina. 🙁

If it's provably untrue then no-one who matters (grant funders etc) is going to believe some random person on Facebook!?

Anyone who has ever used Facebook, or indeed the internet, knows that anyone can literally write anything.

Sure it's bad but it surely can't be surprise, people can be good and bad

Other than having IT people do what they can i am not sure what we can say other than it is not right

If it’s been ongoing for years and the claims are false, not sure why the charity hasn’t sought legal help.
Tjey probably have insurance and could have legal help included with it

Can't you report this to the police if it's untrue and causing damage?
I would be looking at that.
Take screenshots

And trolls aren’t always trolls. They are sometimes people who have had a bad experience with a company/person/charity and want to let others know. Once the first speaks publicly this encourages others with similar experiences to also come forward.

Are the charities mermaids, stonewall etc. ?

Foreversearch the charities I'm referring to aren't controversial - or you wouldn't think they are. They are mainly concerned with protecting historical buildings. Nothing to do with sex, gender, etc.

@whatwasIgoingtosay sorry for being suspicious about the nature of the charities.

If it is a specific person or group have you been able to identify them? If so, report them to the police for harassment.

Another option is mediation to understand why they are targeting these charities. As a pp said they may have a specific issue you are not aware of.

@Foreversearch mediation is certainly an option. Without giving away too many details, both groups do feel they have a specific grievance which the charities are very willing to try to address and smooth out, but instead of asking and discussing, they have pressed the nuclear button from the start and hurled abuse on social media. It just seems so unnecessary and I wonder what makes people behave in such a way. One group have alienated most of the locals, because their SM posts are so vile, and frankly crazy, but it's still a fight that need never have even started and leaves everyone feeling a little bit dirty.

The PR rule is score one more. Start a campaign that shows your work, the benefits etc. Quotes from supporters. Etc

One group have alienated most of the locals, because their SM posts are so vile, and frankly crazy

Well, this is surely the point! They are what is known as 'vexatious complainants' and absolutely every well-meaning charity and organisation has them. They are a sad bunch who just enjoy winding everyone up, and a massive pain in the arse.

As trustee of a charity who has had to deal with this sort of thing occasionally, we decided to treat the complaint seriously, answered all questions completely openly, if this does not work then there really is nothing you can do. Especially if they are using vile abuse on a public forum then you can declare them to be vexatious and refuse to engage, but that really is it.

You cannot take this stuff personally, however upsetting and untrue it is. Almost no one takes what they say seriously and just get bored with it all.

@whatwasIgoingtosay this is one source of mediators. www.independentmediators.co.uk

What you may need is each group to meet with the mediator to explain their issues so the mediator can built a list of discussion points that all parties agree on.

Then a meeting(s) with each group in a separate room with the mediator going between each group.

Then joint mediation meeting(s).

What you need is everyone to agree areas of dispute/disagreement and possible solutions before you have a joint meeting. The aim is to agree solutions for the current issues but also a way to deal with disagreements in the future.

Hopefully this approach allows the anger/upset to dissipate because their grievances have been aired and to move forward constructively.

Expect to have to sit through a lot of “getting it of their chest” rants which you have to suck up (unfair - yes, pragmatic to stop the abuse etc.)

@TonTonMacoute You are right, I know. Vexatious complaining seems to be very common and there is not a great deal to be done to stop it. It's just very distressing for the staff and other supporters. I feel enormously frustrated for them. @Foreversearch thanks for the link.