Should a victim or witness delete harmful content?¶

Do not routinely ask for deletion before the content and its context have been preserved. However, welfare and immediate safety may justify hiding, blocking or removing material sooner.

Preserve without prolonging exposure¶

Record the service, accounts, content, status, time and surrounding conversation, and retain the original device or account where practicable. Distressing, threatening, intimate or unlawful material should not be repeatedly opened or shown. Specialist, safeguarding or provider support may offer a safer preservation route.

Deletion can alter account history, synchronise across devices or notify another user. It may remove the victim's view without removing provider records or copies held by senders, recipients and backups.

Choose the least harmful protective action¶

Platforms may offer muting, hiding, restricting, reporting or blocking as alternatives, but each can create new records and has different effects. Preserve any explanation of those effects before selection. If immediate welfare requires action, record the decision, time, device, operator and resulting change, including who can still access the material.

Provide a safe communication route and advice about further contact. Evidential preservation must support the person affected, not require continuing exposure for its own sake.