How to get help if you're being bullied online
These days, it's not easy to escape a relentless cyberbullying attack. A bully doesn't need to be standing in front of you to inflict harm – they can use the Internet to cause emotional pain, sometimes even anonymously. What makes cyberbullying so dangerous is its reach, which can go far beyond a typical face-to-face bullying encounter. Online, there may be multiple bullies, bystanders and victims and the abuse can continue 24/7. Because so many others might potentially see (and share) negative online messages, the social damage can be devastating for the target.
Research shows that the most common form of cyberbullying among teens (by a large margin) consists of negative comments about a target's physical appearance. Victims may also be singled out because of their religion, race or sexuality. Roughly one in five cyberbullying incidents involves the spreading of rumours.
When you're being bullied online, it can seem like a huge pressure is building up inside you. This anxiety can harm your physical and emotional health so it's vital to take action against cyberbullying as soon as possible. The longer you let it go, the more harm it can do to your self-image and feeling of well-being.
Tackling cyberbullying
If you've been victimised by intentional and repeated online harassment in any form, the first thing to realise is that you're not at fault. Never blame yourself for a perpetrator's vile abuse. Nobody deserves to be treated horribly over the Internet – it's inexcusable. There are several things you can do about cyberbullying:
- Document the abuse with dates and times
- Take screenshots of offensive posts so you have permanent proof
- Report the abuse to the relevant social media platform
- Report it to a responsible, trusted adult who is in a position to help you
- Many types of cyberbullying are illegal so if you feel it's necessary, involve the police
- Delete posts from known cyberbullies without reading them, block online haters and restrict who can read your social media posts
- Get help – talk to a trusted adult or ring Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (any time of day or night)
As a teenager, the key to preventing cyberbullying is vigilance. Be careful what you post, how you react to posts and what photos or videos you send. Gaming platforms and anonymous apps are fertile ground for cyberbullies. The Web is far less private than you may realise, so educate yourself about all the risks so you can enjoy it while keeping yourself safe.