What Can I Do About Cyberbullying?
Sometimes, people are afraid or not sure if they're being bullied or not. So they
don't do anything about it. If you're being bullied, harassed, or teased in a hurtful
way — or know someone who is — you don't have to suffer in silence. In
fact, you absolutely should report any upsetting texts, messages, posts, or emails.
Tell someone. Most experts agree: The first thing to do is tell
an adult you trust. This is often easier said than done. People who are cyberbullied
may feel embarrassed or reluctant to report a bully. Some may hesitate because they're
not 100% sure who is doing the bullying. But bullying can get worse, so speak
up until you find someone to help. Sometimes the police can track down an
anonymous online bully, so it's often worthwhile to report it.
Most parents are so concerned about protecting their kids that sometimes they focus
on taking major steps to stop the bullying. If you're being bullied and worry about
losing your phone or computer privileges, explain your fears to your parents. Let
them know how important it is to stay connected, and work with them to figure out
a solution that doesn't leave you feeling punished as well as picked on. You may have
to do some negotiating on safe phone or computer use — the most important thing
is to first get the bullying under control.
You also can talk to your school counselor or a trusted teacher or family
member. If the bullying feels like it's really getting you down (like if it's affecting
your sleep or concentration), therapy can help. If you're not ready for that, you
can still benefit from the support of a trusted adult.
Walk away. What you've heard about walking away from a real-life
bully works in the virtual world too. Ignoring bullies is the best way to take away
their power, but it isn't always easy to do — in the real world or online.
If you see something upsetting, try to step away from the computer or turn off
your phone for a while. Don't respond, and never forward the message to someone else.
Find something to distract yourself from what's going on. Do something you love that
doesn't give you time to think about what's happening, like playing the guitar, going
for a run, or losing yourself in a book or movie. You can also just chat with a parent
or sibling or play with a pet.
Taking a break like this allows you to keep things in perspective and focus on
the good things in your life. It also gives you time to figure out how you want to
handle things.
Resist the urge to retaliate or respond. Walking away or taking
a break when you're faced with online bullying gives you some space so you won't be
tempted to fire back a response or engage with the bully or bullies. Responding when
we're upset can make things worse. (Standing up to a bully can be effective sometimes,
but it's more likely to provoke the person and escalate the situation.) Taking a break
gives the power back to you!
Although it's not a good idea to respond to a bully, it is a good idea
to save evidence of the bullying if you can. It can help you prove your case, if needed.
You don't have to keep mean emails, texts, or other communications where you see them
all the time — you can ask a parent to make a copy or save them to a flash drive.
Report bullying. Social media sites take it seriously when people
post cruel or mean stuff or set up fake accounts. If users report abuse, the site
administrator may block the bully from using the site in the future. If someone sends
you mean texts or emails, report it to phone service or email providers (such as Comcast,
Google, and Verizon).
Block the bully. Most devices have settings that let you electronically
block the bully or bullies from sending notes. If you don't know how to do this, ask
a friend or adult who does.
Be safe online. Password protect your smartphone and your online
sites, and change your passwords often. Be sure to share your passwords only with
your parent or guardian. It's also wise to think twice before sharing personal information
or photos/videos that you don't want the world to see. Once you've posted a photo
or message, it can be difficult or impossible to delete. So remind yourself to be
cautious when posting photos or responding to someone's upsetting message.
If a Friend Is a Bully
If you know of a friend who is acting as a cyberbully, take him or her aside and
talk about it. Without putting your friend down, stand up for your own principles:
Let the bully know it's not OK.
Explain to your friend that bullying can have serious consequences: for the bully,
for those being bullied, and even for bystanders like you and your friends.
Date reviewed: April 2018