Various authors (for example, Benesch et al. 2015, Ray et al. 2022) have attempted to define or describe what an "effective" response is to social media aggression, such as hate crime, cyberbullying, and online abuse. Some of these concentrate on positive change for the victim, the bystander, or the aggressor. Some measure effectiveness theoretically or philosophically, while others try to find more empirical evidence for effectiveness. However, these definitions sometimes raise more questions than answers. Has the notion of effectiveness changed over time? Have new dimensions arisen as social media has developed? Using primary research from experts in the field, and a review of the prior research, I attempt to answer some of these questions, and move us closer to an agreed definition of effectiveness.