Website of the UK government

Don't get involved

Even if you’re not a ringleader and targeting someone specifically, you can easily be part of the problem by adding abusive comments to an online messageboard or sending a photo you’ve received on your phone to your mates. You can also be dragged into cyberbullying without realising.

Be smart. If you’re sent or come across anything that is hurtful, offensive or threatening to someone else, don’t laugh at it or encourage it.

Think how it would make you feel if it was aimed at you, a friend or a member of your family.

What you can do about it

Even though those that use the web to target and bully others think that they can remain anonymous, this isn’t the case. Even someone using a false name or email address can be traced and banned by social networks and email providers if they’re found to be bullying others.

Don’t be tempted to take on the person who’s carrying out the bullying yourself by responding to them in a way that’s just as threatening. You may become guilty of bullying yourself, or make yourself another target for someone to threaten. If you do notice bullying taking place on instant messenger, in a chatroom or on a social networking site, report it to the website administrators or internet service provider. You should be able to do this easily through the site itself.

If you notice bullying happening on a mobile phone, contact your mobile service provider.

If you encounter any other forms of cyberbullying, especially those that use racism, religious hate, homophobia or threats of actual violence, tell your parents, a teacher or – if you think that the content is illegal – the police.

• Going to the police

You're not alone

"Rather than not be a mate to a bully I would say ‘stop doing it’".

The Anti-Bullying Alliance recently found that one in five schoolchildren in the UK had been the victim of some form of online and mobile abuse.

If you are having problems with mobile or online bullying, here’s a few ideas about what you can do to help you deal with it and stop it happening completely:

• talk to someone you trust about it, like a friend, a teacher or an older relative
• keep and save any bullying emails, text messages or images you receive
• make a note of the time and date that messages or images were sent, along with any details you have about the sender
• try changing your online user ID or nickname
• change your mobile phone number and only give it out to close friends
• mobile phone companies and internet service providers can trace bullies, so don’t be afraid of reporting it to them
• block instant messages from certain people or use mail filters to block emails from specific email addresses
• don't reply to bullying or threatening text messages or emails – this could make matters worse and lets those carrying out the bullying know that they've found a 'live' phone number or email address
• report serious bullying, like threats of a physical or sexual nature, to the police
  

Staying safe online

If you’re using the internet, you should never give out your personal details. If you're in a chatroom, watch what you say about where you live, the school you go to, or your email address.

As well as allowing a cyberbully to build up a picture about you and how they can hurt you, posting personal information online can attract adults who are pretending to be teenagers and lying about their real identity.

• Staying safe online

Getting help

If cyberbullying is affecting you and you'd like to speak to someone in confidence about what you can do, you should contact ChildLine

All calls are free and confidential, and the helpline is available 24 hours a day

• Get help and advice from ChildLine (opens new window)
• Find out more about cyberbullying (opens new window)