Received Lewd Chats on Social Media? Here's What to Do

A digital and social media expert has provided guidance on how to handle lewd chats on social media, following a case of alleged sexual harassment involving dozens of female students at the University of Sumatera Utara (USU). Enda Nasution stated that the public needs to distinguish between a one-off disturbance, a pattern of harassment, and a serious threat. He noted that not every random message needs to be escalated into a major case, but victims must understand when a situation has crossed the line and requires immediate escalation.

If the disturbance leads to sexual harassment, Enda advised victims to collect complete evidence. This can include screenshots, screen recordings, the sender’s account identity, the time of the incident, and other information that can strengthen a report. Subsequently, victims can report the case to the authorities. If the victim is a university student, they can file a complaint with the university’s Task Force Unit for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education (PPKPT).

Enda also reminded victims to be cautious if they wish to make a harassment case go viral on social media. He noted there are several considerations to ensure that speaking up does not result in the victim being charged with criminal defamation.