Cyberbullying
All you need to know
What does cyberbullying look like?
Cyberbullying can occur in many ways, including:
- abusive texts and emails
- hurtful messages, images or videos
- imitating others online
- excluding others online
- humiliating others online
- nasty online gossip and chat.
I am being cyberbullied—how do I stop it?
- talk to someone you trust straight away—like a parent, sibling, uncle/aunt, teacher or friend, or contact Kids Helpline
- don’t retaliate or respond—they might use it against you
- block the bully and change your privacy settings
- report the abuse to the service and get others to as well
- collect the evidence—keep mobile phone messages, take screen shots and print emails or social networking conversations
- do something you enjoy—catch-up with friends, listen to good music, watch a good show or chat online to people you can trust
- remember you didn’t ask for this—nobody deserves to be bullied and you will get through this.
What if a friend is being cyberbullied?
If you have a friend or know someone at school who is being cyberbullied:
- don’t join in—don’t comment on posts, images or videos that will hurt others
- don’t forward or share posts, images or videos that will hurt others
- leave negative groups and conversations
- report bullying to someone that can help—this can be an anonymous report to a parent or teacher
- if you are confident, call others on their bullying and ask them to stop—'Enough. This isn't funny'
- support your friend online and offline—'I heard about the posts-you don't deserve it. I'm here for you.'