The concept of creating safe spaces has existed in our society for over half a century and is even now an integral part of many college campuses.At Panion, we believe that safe spaces also need to be created within our virtual worlds, but creating a feeling of safety online does need to be approached in a somewhat different manner.
We have put together this guide on creating a safe online space to help you figure out how you can create a nurturing and supportive environment inside your online community.
At this time, safe spaces were physical spaces, like a bar, where people could go without the fear of judgment.Later on, many college campuses adopted the idea and began to build safe spaces for vulnerable students, usually from historically marginalized groups.
These were designed to be open and accepting communities where students could speak their minds without fear of discrimination.As we move forward into a more digitally forward society, safe spaces are more commonly found online, giving everyone with internet access a chance to find their place of comfort.In the same respect that physical safe space should be a psychologically sound environment for all people involved, a safe space online should also foster a positive emotional environment underpinned by mutual respect, inclusivity, open-mindedness, and supportive attitudes.
Having a support group in place to reach out to, such as an online community of people that your trust, can be a huge help in creating a sense of safety.
Make sure you respect your members’ privacyOne of the most critical first steps of creating a safe space is ensuring you’re inviting members to a community hosted on a trustworthy platform, one that respects your members’ privacy and their data.We’ve recently explored some of the reasons to look at alternatives to Facebook and WhatsApp for your online community and have looked at the repercussions of engaging on platforms that sell user data and promote advertising.