Countryside Alliance wants to highlight the true extent of online bullying of rural communities

The Countryside Alliance has launched a survey to ask people about their experiences of online bullying. The Countryside Alliance strongly condemns online bullying of any kind and has long campaigned to raise awareness of the issue.

Over the last year the Countryside Alliance has alerted people to the online bullying that rural communities and supporters of country sports face on a daily basis. This campaign reached over 1.2 million people and called on social platforms to take the threats seriously and take action by standing up to those who incite hatred and violence. While the government has a commitment to make the UK the "safest place in the world to be online", it is clear that those who are passionate about the countryside are still experiencing online bullying for their beliefs and lawful activities.

We need your help to identify the true extent of online bullying of rural communities and ask that you help us by telling us about your experience by completing this short survey.

All responses will be treated in the strictest of confidences, but with your help we can understand how social media companies are responding to online abuse directed at those engaged in country sports and shine a light on the bullying and harassment that often goes unreported.

Countryside Alliance, Head of Policy Sarah Lee, commented: "Everyone should feel safe when using social media and appropriate protections should be in place to prevent attacks designed to intimidate and silence. We hope that this survey will raise awareness to the online abuse that some people in rural communities face, and the results will help the Countryside Alliance continue to put pressure on the Government and social media platforms to do more to protect people on social media."

Complete the survey here