Cyberbullying
Key takeaways
- Cyberbullying is using digital technology to harass, threaten, or embarrass someone.
- Use parental controls, adjust privacy settings, and discuss online safety.
- Respond by blocking the person, keeping any evidence, telling an adult, and reporting it.
- Services like Kids Helpline and Headspace can help provide you and your child support.
Cyberbullying is when a person uses digital technology to harass, threaten or embarrass someone.
It can happen in text messages, emails, online games, or social media platforms like TikTok or Snapchat.
Cyberbullying can affect a child's self-esteem, leaving them lonely and less interested in school. KidsHelpline provides helpful information about what cyberbullying can look like.
Staying Safe Online
Being Safe Online is an important step to avoiding cyberbullying.
Online safety is about being aware of your personal safety online and protecting your private information on the internet. Practicing online safety can look like:
- Setting up parental controls on your child's device
- Changing social media privacy settings to limit who can contact your child
- Being aware of cyberbullying and how to deal with it
- Having regular conversations about online safety
You can also visit our Staying Safe Online page for more resources about online safety, information about parental controls using Microsoft Family Safety, and tips for staying safe on social media.
Responding to cyberbullying
The Raising Children Network gives steps on how to respond to cyberbullying.
- Block or delete the person doing the cyberbullying
- Keep evidence of the bullying
- Tell someone (a trusted adult, parent, teacher) if you are being bullied
- Report the bullying (see further information below)
Steps to report cyberbullying
- If your child is being bullied due to a situation at school, you can approach your child's teacher or school principal to talk about the situation.
- You can report the bullying to the site, app or game that was used to send the harmful content. The eSafety Guide provides information about how to report online abuse in various apps.
- You can report online harm through the eSafety Commission. They can investigate cyberbullying, image-based abuse (sharing images without consent), and illegal or restricted content.
- You can report abuse to the police. If your child is in immediate danger, they should call 000.
Support is available
Cyberbullying can make people feel sad, angry, embarrassed, hurt, worried, afraid, or stressed. These feelings may be felt for a long or short time. There is lots of support available for anyone who is experiencing or has experienced cyberbullying.
Talking about the bullying with a trusted parent, carer or teacher can help lots of young people feel better. It may also be helpful for young people to talk to an expert to receive counselling and support for cyberbullying. Young people can access these support services:
- Kids Helpline is a free service for 5 to 25 year olds. Call 1800 55 1800 or use the online chat.
- Headspace is a free service for 12 to 25 year olds. Call 1800 650 890 or visit the Headspace website for more information.
- Contact your GP for a mental healthcare plan
As a parent, you may also want some support as you help your child through a difficult situation. There are free counselling and support services available for parents:
- Website: Parentline NT/QLD | Phone: 1300 30 1300
- Website: Parent Line TAS | Phone: 1300 808 178
- Website: Parent Helpline SA | Phone: 1300 364 100
- Website: Parenting WA | Phone: 1800 111 546
- Website: Parentline NSW | Phone: 1300 1300 52
- Website: Parentline VIC | Phone: 13 22 89
Helpful Links
For young people
For parents
- Cyberbullying: Spotting the signs and helping children and teenagers handle it
- How to look after your mental wellbeing on social media
- Counselling and mental wellbeing support for young people
- Mental wellbeing resources for families
Easy to read
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