How to respond to cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to be mean to another person by mocking them, calling them names, or threatening them through posts, comments, messages, videos, pictures and emails.

Of course, there's no harm in having some light banter with someone, but drawing the line is important. When you start to feel upset or things get too personal, then that’s your signal that the conversation is taking a negative turn.

What cyberbullying can look like

Making fun of someone’s appearance, race, or religion.
Calling someone hurtful names and being disrespectful.
Humiliating someone by sharing an unflattering picture of them.
Spreading nasty rumors about someone and gossiping about them.
Sharing sensitive information or secrets about someone.
Consistently harassing someone and trolling them.
Deliberately leaving them out of things to make them feel unwanted.

What you can do

Do not respond

The goal of the cyberbully is to work you up and get you to react. If you give out replies that are driven by anger, you will only escalate the situation and make it worse. Communicating back and forth with a cyberbully gives them more room to further hurt you.

Keep evidence

Take and save screenshots or screen recordings of the texts, pictures, texts, emails, and videos that the cyberbully has sent or posted about you. These captures will be used against the cyberbully and they will act as conclusive proof of abuse, especially if they deny your claims.

Report the abuse

Every platform or website has the option to report inappropriate or abusive content or anything that doesn’t follow their terms of use. When you report such incidents, the source account will most probably be disabled and the user will be banned from commenting.

Block the cyberbully

Putting an end to harassment from a cyberbully will easily happen if you block them. Blocking a user means that you will no longer be receiving messages or any form of online content from them, they will not be able to find you through search, or even see your profile, however, they can still post about you on the platform for others to see.

Change your contact information

This might be a hassle but it will help greatly in ending the cyberbullying situation. Think of it like starting fresh, without the cyberbully involved. Changing your email address, online account, and phone number will make it extremely difficult for the cyberbully to find you or contact you.

Choose your friends wisely

If you already know that a specific person has a mean streak and they’re known to bully others, it's better not to have them on your friends list. Also, don’t try to befriend a cyberbully just to be in the safe zone, because this tactic usually backfires and you don’t want to be associated with someone like that anyways.

Talk about it

You might feel like it's better to keep your experience with cyberbullying to yourself, but it definitely is not. Talking to someone you trust about the struggles you’re facing will alleviate the pressure you’re feeling and lift some weight off your shoulders. Carrying emotional distress is very burdening and venting is a great cure for that.

Contact the authorities

If you ever feel like your life is in danger or the cyberbullying escalates to an alarming level, then you must report this to the authorities right away. Never brush off threats of physical harm and keep evidence.

You are not alone

Cyberbullying can make you feel isolated and sad. These feelings can be overwhelming, but you should always know that you can count on others for support. Your parents, siblings, and friends are there for you, and don’t forget that thousands of people experience cyberbullying around the world. Don’t be ashamed to reach out and get the help you need.