Responsible Online Self-help Groups

The Internet is a wonderful place to connect with other people whom
you may never have met otherwise. Many people who seek support
online have concerns about their safety and confidentiality. This is
especially true for survivors of abuse.

Over the years, many different online support/self-help groups have
been created. This is probably due to the influx of free services
that encourage people to start their
own "clubs", "communities", "forums", "egroups", "e-lists", etc.,
etc. These services are very easy to set up, and in minutes, a "self-
help" group (of sorts) is formed. Support also comes in the form of
newsgroups, and groups started by non-profit organizations.

A: Questions to ask yourself before joining a group

1. Is this group safe? Many groups claim to be safe. Some even claim
to be the "safest place" or "the only place to heal". Be wary of
such comments. Look for any evidence they are using to back up their
claims. Remember that programs/services run by non-profits are not
necessarily safe. Use the questions that follow to determine if the
group is really safe. Also, remember that there is NEVER just one
place (or time) to heal!

2. Who are the members? Find out who else is in the group and/or
uses the services. Find out what the criteria for membership is
(M/F, young/old, survivor/non-survivor, etc. etc.), and most
importantly, does the moderator have any way of screening new
members? Many groups can be joined by anyone who has an account with
the sponsoring service. Also, you may want to know the group size.
Too many members can make for an ineffective, impersonal experience.

3. What do I know about the moderator(s)? Who is the moderator? What
do you know about him/her? How involved is s/he in the group? Does
s/he share the same concern/experience as the rest of the members?
If s/he does, then s/he is running a self-help group. If s/he
doesn't, then the group should really be considered a support group,
and the moderator should have certain credentials to lead the group.
You may also want to know how many moderators facilitate the group.

4. Who will be viewing my messages/communication? Is the group open
or closed? Can anyone view the messages you are posting, or the chat
in which you are participating? If you are not comfortable with just
anyone looking at your messages, etc., then try to locate a closed
forum. There are many individuals on the web who like to lurk at
survivor groups, and some researchers are using online forums as
fertile ground for research without the members' consent.


5. What are the rules of the group and how are they enforced? At a
minimum, groups should have certain rules and guidelines concerning
the safety and confidentiality of its members. Groups run more
smoothly, and the level of sharing is enhanced if members feel safe
and know what is/isn't expected of themselves and others. If a group
has rules, find out how they are enforced. Can the moderator delete
inappropriate members/messages? How vigilant is the moderator in
enforcing the rules?

I believe that responsible online support programs/services have the
following features; clearly established membership criteria and new
member screening, faithfully observed rules and guidelines, private
forums for member communication, and a moderator who monitors the
messages and discussion-taking place and is available and capable
should a problem arise. Groups with these features tend to run most
closely like offline self-help groups and can be very beneficial to
their members.

* Of course, you may not care if the group you join or participate
in has the above features. What is most important is that you make
an informed decision about where you feel most comfortable sharing.
©1999-2004 MDSA