VIRTUAL BULLYING AND DIGITAL ETIQUETTE

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR IN VIDEO CALLS AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS

The transition to remote and hybrid work models has expanded the concept of the workplace into the virtual environment, introducing new risks and modes of harassment.

Behavior during videoconferences demands the same level of professionalism as a face-to-face meeting. However, the informality of the home often blurs these boundaries.

Behavior such as appearing on camera in inappropriate attire (or not), displaying wallpapers with offensive images, or making obscene gestures during a call constitute modern forms of sexual and visual harassment.

Imagine a virtual military strategy meeting where Napoleon Bonaparte connects from his bedroom, wearing revealing sleepwear or deliberately displaying intimate personal items in the background of his camera.

Even if he is at home, by exposing his generals and subordinates to this unsolicited intimacy in a professional context, he is creating a hostile environment.

Similarly, if Napoleon insisted that a subordinate, like Joan of Arc, keep her camera on at inopportune times or comment on the domestic environment visible on her screen, he would be engaging in cyberbullying.

USE OF INSTANT MESSAGING AND CORPORATE SOCIAL NETWORKS

Instant communication platforms (such as Slack, Teams or corporate WhatsApp) are work tools, not dating channels.

Sending emojis, GIFs or "stickers" with sexual, romantic or double entendre connotations is a violation of the harassment policy.

The immediacy of these tools does not justify the loss of professional etiquette.

Digital harassment also includes the bombardment of messages outside of working hours, especially if they have a personal or intrusive tone.

If writer Oscar Wilde used the publisher's internal chat room to send poems with lewd innuendos to a junior editor, or if he commented on the "beauty" of his colleague's profile picture, he would be crossing the line into verbal and written harassment.

While Wilde might argue that it's simply his literary style or a witty joke, if the recipient is uncomfortable, it's harassment.

In addition, recording video sessions or taking screenshots of colleagues without their consent and then sharing them or making fun of their appearance constitutes serious misconduct.

THE CONCEPT OF "NETIQUETTE" AND RESPECT FOR DIGITAL BOUNDARIES

Prevention in the digital environment requires strict adherence to "netiquette" or online etiquette. This involves respecting the privacy and disconnection schedules of colleagues.

Companies should educate on what constitutes acceptable online behavior, as virtual interactions leave a permanent digital trail that can serve as evidence in investigations.

Digital security also plays a role; employees should use secure channels and avoid exposing sensitive or personal information that could be used to harass.

If Benjamin Franklin, known for his sociability, insisted on making private late-night video calls to a female scientific colleague under the pretext of "discussing experiments," ignoring formal channels of communication, he would be violating digital and professional boundaries.

Persistence on digital channels, when there is no justified work need, is a form of virtual stalking.

SUMMARY

Remote work requires maintaining professionalism in videoconferencing; behaviors such as wearing inappropriate clothing, displaying offensive backgrounds, or invading domestic privacy through the camera are considered cyberstalking.

Corporate messaging platforms should not be used for romantic propositions or sending suggestive emojis, and intrusive or personal contact outside the working hours established by the company is unacceptable.

It is essential to respect digital etiquette and the limits of disconnection, avoiding recording sessions without permission or exposing sensitive information that can be used to harass or mock colleagues.