Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is using phones, online platforms and games to bully someone.
It can happen to anyone and leave you feeling unsafe. It can also make you feel ashamed and alone — separated from your friends, family and the community.
What does it look like?
- Abusive texts, emails, posts and messages.
- Threats.
- Nasty comments, photos and gossip.
- Pretending to be someone else online to stir trouble.
- ‘Leaving people out’ online.
- Blackmail.
- Hate pages.
Let's go on a journey
A long time ago in the dreaming, stories were told face to face. This video shows how technology has changed the way we tell our stories and how phones and online sites can be used to bully and hurt people.
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Let's go on a journey. Long time ago in the Dreaming, stories were formed and told the old way, person to person. These stories have left footprints for generations to follow. These days, technology has changed the way we share and tell our stories. |
[Reads title] Bullying online, shame long time. Cyberbullying is bullying using phones and online sites. It can happen to anyone and can leave you feeling unsafe and feeling shame. Cyberbullying can make you feel alone, outside your friends, family and the mob. It can split families and communities, and sometime can lead to payback and violence. |
What does it look like? Abusive texts and emails, threats, posting nasty comments, photos and gossip, pretending to be someone else online to stir trouble or bring shame, leaving people out online, blackmail, hate pages. How do you deal with it? Don't fight back. No matter how much you want to, as soon as you fight back online, it makes it worse and leaves a bad footprint for you. Don't post abusive messages. It can get you in trouble with the law. You can block the person who's doing the bullying. Change your privacy settings. Report it and collect the evidence. Keep mobile phone messages, emails and online posts. Talk to someone you trust. |
If you see or know about cyberbullying going on, there are things you can do. Support the person being bullied. Ask them if they're OK. Don't forward on messages or pictures if you see them. Stand up and speak out. Keep the messages to show a trusted adult or a leader in the community what's going on. Report and block the bully. This can be done online and is anonymous. |
Under 25? Worried about cyberbullying? You can make a free call to the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. |
Video: Cyberbullying
How to deal with cyberbullying
If it's happening to you:
- Don’t fight back!
- Don’t post abusive messages.
- Report it and collect the evidence.
- Learn how to block the person who is bullying.
- Talk to someone you trust.
If it's happening to someone else:
- Support the person being bullied — ask them if they're OK.
- Don’t forward messages or pictures if you see them.
- Stand up and speak out — keep the messages to show a trusted adult or a leader in the community.
- Report and block the person — this can be done online anonymously and can help keep you safe.
Worried about cyberbullying?
If you are under 25 you can have a web chat with Kids Helpline or make a free call to them on 1800 55 1800.
You could also check out our advice about cyberbullying for kids, young people and parents.