ONLINE BULLYING
Supporting young people who have experienced bullying online.
12%
of young people in the UK are affected by cyberbullying
Cyberbullying, or online bullying, is when someone uses the internet to bully
someone else. The Cambridge dictionary defines cyberbullying as
‘Someone who uses the internet to harm or frighten another person,
especially by sending them unpleasant messages.’
Best practices for parents and carers
Have an open conversation
Listen, and offer support and encouragement. If your child is the victim of cyberbullying, remind them that this is not their fault and that no one deserves to be treated in this way. Some young people think that if they are the target of online bullying, they must have done something wrong. It is also important to encourage your child to save the evidence. They can do this by taking a screenshot of what has happened or by keeping the messages they have received.
Don’t reply
Most of the time the person doing the bullying is looking for a reaction when they are being mean online. Tell your child not to reply, instead they should tell a trusted adult what has happened. Reassure them that even if they are also at fault, they should come and talk to you or a trusted adult. You can then work out the best way to resolve the situation together.
Don’t deny access to technology
Although it can be very tempting to remove a device from a young person if they are being bullied, having their device taken away may prevent them from speaking to you about worrying issues in the future.
Discuss next steps
Ask your child what they want you to do next. This might involve speaking to school to get support and advice, blocking the user or profile or reporting the behaviour to the site or service it is on.
Best practices for schools
and professionals
Understand the tools
Be aware of the reporting mechanisms on different sites and services so you can support your pupils in making a report.
Know who to report to
ensure that you are aware of who to go to in your school or organisation if you have concerns about cyberbullying incidents. This may be a head of year/department, a member of the senior leadership team, or the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Discuss online bullying
Be proactive in discussing cyberbullying with your pupils; how it occurs, why it occurs, and the consequences of such behaviour.
Resources
Useful links
Educational resources about online bullying and kindness from the UK Safer Internet Centre and other organisations
Frequently asked questions about online bullying
Articles
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Still have questions?
Maybe one of our helplines is the right place for you.
Online issues
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How can I teach young people about this?
Understand the tools
Be aware of the reporting mechanisms on different sites and services so you can support your pupils in making a report.
Know who to report to
Ensure that you are aware of who to go to in your school if you have concerns about cyberbullying incidents.
This may be a head of year or department, a member of the senior leadership team, or the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Discuss cyberbullying
Be proactive in discussing cyberbullying with your pupils; how it occurs, why it occurs, and the consequences of such behaviour.
FAQs