“What would you like to know about cyberbullying?” We posed this question to young people and received thousands of responses from around the world.
We brought together UNICEF specialists, international cyberbullying and child protection experts, and teamed up with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to answer the questions and give their advice on ways to deal with online bullying.
1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?
UNICEF:All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you – especially online. Sometimes they’ll laugh it off with a “just kidding,” or “don’t take it so seriously".
But if you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you instead of with you, then the joke has gone too far. If it continues even after you’ve asked the person to stop and you are still feeling upset about it, then this could be bullying.
When bullying takes place online, it can result in unwanted attention from a wide range of people including strangers. Wherever it may happen, if you are not happy about it, you should not have to stand for it.
Call it what you will – if you feel bad and it doesn’t stop, then it’s worth getting help. Stopping cyberbullying is not just about calling out bullies, it’s also about recognising that everyone deserves respect – online and in real life.
2. What are the effects of cyberbullying?
When bullying happens online it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways:
- Mentally– feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even angry
- Emotionally– feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love
- Physically– tired (loss of sleep), or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches
The feeling of being laughed at or harassed by others, can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead topeople taking their own lives.
Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome and people can regain their confidence and health.
3. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?
UNICEF:If you think you’re being bullied, the first step is to seek help from someone you trust such asyour parents, a close family member or another trusted adult like your favourite teacher.
If you are not comfortable talking to someone you know, search for a helpline in your country to talk to a professional counsellor.
If the bullying is happening on a social platform, consider blocking the bully and formally reporting their behaviour on the platform itself. Social media companies are obligated to keep their users safe. It can be helpful to collect evidence – text messages and screen shots of social media posts – to show what’s been going on.
For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key. It can also help to show the bully that their behaviour is unacceptable. If you are in immediate danger, then you should contact the police or emergency services in your country.
Facebook/Instagram:If you’re being bullied online, we encourage you to talk to a parent, teacher or someone else you can trust – you have a right to be safe. We also make it easy to report any bullying directly within Facebook or Instagram.
You can always send our team an anonymous report from a post, comment or story on Facebook or Instagram. We have a team who reviews these reports 24/7 around the world in 50+ languages, and we’ll remove anything that’s abusive or bullying. These reports are always anonymous.
We have aguideon Facebook that can help lead you through the process of dealing with bullying – or what to do if you see someone else being bullied. On Instagram, we also have aParent’s Guidethat provides recommendations for parents, guardians and trusted adults on how to navigate cyberbullying, and acentral hubwhere you can learn about our safety tools.
Twitter:If you think that you are being cyberbullied, the most important thing is to ensure you are safe. It’s essential to have someone to talk to about what you are going through. This may be a teacher, another trusted adult, or a parent. Talk to your parents and friends about what to do if you or a friend are being cyberbullied.
We encourage people to report accounts to us that may break our rules. You can do this through the support pages on ourHelp Centeror through the in-Tweet reporting mechanism by clicking on the “Report a Tweet” option.
4. I am experiencing cyberbullying but I'm afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?
If you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult – someone you feel safe talking to – is one of the most important first steps you can take.
Talking to parents isn’t easy for everyone. But there are things you can do to help the conversation. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention. Explain how serious the problem is for you.
Remember, they might not be as familiar with technology as you are, so you might need to help them to understand what’s happening.
They might not have instant answers for you, but they are likely to want to help and together you can find a solution. Two heads are always better than one! If you are still unsure about what to do, consider reaching out to other trusted people.
There are often more people who care about you and are willing to help than you might think!
5. How can I help my friends report cyberbullying especially if they don't want to do it?
UNICEF:Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying. If you see this happening to someone you know, try to offer support.
It is important to listen to your friend. Why don’t they want to report being cyberbullied? How are they feeling? Let them know that they don’t have to formally report anything, but it’s crucial to talk to someone who might be able to help.
Remember, your friend may be feeling fragile. Be kind to them. Help them think through what they might say and to whom. Offer to go with them if they decide to report. Most importantly, remind them that you’re there for them and you want to help.
If your friend still does not want to report the incident, then support them in finding a trusted adult who can help them deal with the situation. Remember that in certain situations the consequences of cyberbullying can be life threatening.
Doing nothing can leave the person feeling that everyone is against them or that nobody cares.Your words can make a difference.
Facebook/Instagram:We know that it can be hard to report someone. But, it’s never OK to bully anyone. Reporting content to Facebook or Instagram can help us better keep you safe on our platforms.
Bullying and harassment are highly personal by nature, so in many instances, we need a person to report this behavior to us before we can identify or remove it. Reporting a case of cyberbullying is always anonymous on Instagram and Facebook, and no one will ever know you let us know about this behavior.
You can report something you experience yourself, but it’s also just as easy to report for one of your friends using the tools available directly in the app. More information on how to report something is included inInstagram’s Help Centerand onFacebook’s Help Center.
You could also let your friend know about a tool on Instagram calledRestrict, where you can discreetly protect your account without having to block someone – which can seem harsh for some people.
Twitter:We enabledbystander reportingwhich means that you can make a report on behalf of another person. This can now be done for reports of private information and impersonation as well.
6. How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the internet?
UNICEF:Being online has so many benefits. However, like many things in life, it comes with risks that you need to protect against.
If you experience cyberbullying, you may want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while to give yourself time to recover. But getting off the Internet is not a long–term solution. You did nothing wrong, so why should you be disadvantaged? It may even send the bullies the wrong signal – encouraging their unacceptable behaviour.
We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others. We need to be kind to one another online and in real life. It's up to all of us!
Facebook/Instagram:We know that cyberbullying can get in the way and create negative experiences. That’s why at Instagram and Facebook, we’re committed to leading the fight against cyberbullying.
We’re doing this in two main ways. First, by using technology to prevent people from experiencing and seeing bullying. For example, people canturn on a settingthat uses artificial intelligence technology to automatically filter and hide bullying comments intended to harass or upset people.
Second, we’re working to encourage positive behavior and interactions by giving people tools to customise their experience on Facebook and Instagram.Restrictis one tool designed to empower you to discreetly protect your account while still keeping an eye on a bully.
Twitter:Since hundreds of millions of people share ideas on Twitter, it’s no surprise that we don’t all agree. That’s one of the benefits because we can all learn from respectful disagreements and discussions.
But sometimes, after you’ve listened to someone for a while, you may not want to hear them anymore. Their right to express themselves doesn’t mean you’re required to listen.
7. How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?
Think twice before posting or sharing anything online – it may stay online forever and could be used to harm you later. Don’t give out personal details such as your address, telephone number or the name of your school.
Learn about the privacy settings of your favourite social media apps. Here are some actions you can take on many of them:
- You can decide who can see your profile, send you direct messages or comment on your posts by adjusting your account privacy settings.
- You can report hurtful comments, messages and photos and request they be removed.
- Besides ‘unfriending’, you can completely block people to stop them from seeing your profile or contacting you.
- You can also choose to have comments by certain people to appear only to them without completely blocking them.
- You can delete posts on your profile or hide them from specific people.
On most of your favourite social media, people aren't notified when you block, restrict or report them.
8. Is there a punishment for cyberbulling?
UNICEF:Most schools take bullying seriously and will take action against it. If you are being cyberbullied by other students, report it to your school.
People who are victims of any form of violence, including bullying and cyberbullying, have a right to justice and to have the offender held accountable. Laws against bullying, particularly on cyberbullying, are relatively new and still do not exist everywhere.
This is why many countries rely on other relevant laws, such as ones against harassment, to punish cyberbullies. In countries that have specific laws on cyberbullying, online behaviour that deliberately causes serious emotional distress is seen as criminal activity.
In some of these countries, victims of cyberbullying can seek protection, prohibit communication from a specified person and restrict the use of electronic devices used by that person for cyberbullying, temporarily or permanently.
However, it is important to remember that punishment is not always the most effective way to change the behaviour of bullies. It is often better to focus on repairing the harm and mending the relationship.
Facebook/Instagram:On Facebook, we have a set ofCommunity Standards, and on Instagram, we haveCommunity Guidelinesthat we ask our community to follow. If we find content that violates these policies, like in the case of bullying or harassment, we’ll remove it.
If you think content has been removed incorrectly, we also allow for appeals. On Instagram, you can appeal content or account removal through ourHelp Center. On Facebook, you can also go through the same process on theHelp Center.
9. Internet companies don't seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?
Internet companies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of online bullying. Many of them are introducing ways to address it and better protect their users with new tools, guidance and ways to report online abuse.
But it is true thateven more is needed.Many young people experience cyberbullying every day. Some face extreme forms of online abuse. Some have taken their own lives as a result.
Technology companies have a responsibility to protect their users especially children and young people. It is up to all of us to hold them accountable when they’re not living up to these responsibilities.
10. Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?
UNICEF:Each social platform offers different tools (see available ones below) that allow you to restrict who can comment on or view your posts or who can connect automatically as a friend, and to report cases of bullying. Many of them involve simple steps to block, mute or report cyberbullying. We encourage you to explore them.
Social media companies also provide educational tools and guidance for children, parents and teachers to learn about risks and ways to stay safe online. Also, the first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you.
Think about where cyberbullying happens in your community and ways you can help – by raising your voice, calling out bullies, reaching out to trusted adults or by creating awareness of the issue. Even a simple act of kindness can go a long way.
If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, urgently speak to an adult you trust. Or visitChild Helpline Internationalto find help in your country. Many countries have a special helpline you can call for free and talk to someone anonymously.
Facebook/Instagram:We have a number of tools to help keep young people safe:
- You can opt to ignore all messages from a bully or use ourRestricttool to discreetly protect your account without that person being notified.
- You canmoderate commentson your own posts.
- You can modify your settings so that only people you follow can send you a direct message.
- And on Instagram, wesend you a notificationyou’re about to post something that might cross the line, encouraging you to reconsider.
For more tips on how to protect yourself and others from cyberbullying, check out our resources onFacebookorInstagram.
Twitter:If people on Twitter become annoying or negative we have tools that can help you, and the following list is linked to instructions on how to set these up. Our guide,“Teaching and Learning with Twitter”has these instructions and more.
- Mute–removing an account's Tweets from your timeline without unfollowing or blocking that account
- Block– restricting specific accounts from contacting you, seeing your Tweets, and following you
- Report– filing a report about abusive behaviour
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:
- Spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos of someone on social media
- Sending hurtful messages or threats via messaging platforms
- Impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf.
Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint – a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.
Expert contributions from:Sonia Livingstone, OBE, Professor Social Psychology, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics; Professor Amanda Third, Professorial Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University.
With special thanks to:Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
UNICEF contributions:Mercy Agbai, Stephen Blight, Anjan Bose, Alix Cabral, Rocio Aznar Daban, Siobhan Devine, Emma Ferguson, Nicole Foster, Nelson Leoni, Supreet Mahanti, Clarice Da Silva e Paula, Michael Sidwell, Daniel Kardefelt Winther.
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics, including cyberbullying. I can help answer questions and provide guidance based on the information provided in the article you shared. Here's some information related to the concepts discussed in the article:
1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?
UNICEF suggests that while friends may joke around with each other, it can be difficult to differentiate between a joke and bullying, especially online. If you feel hurt or believe others are laughing at you instead of with you, the joke may have gone too far. If the behavior continues even after you've asked the person to stop and you're still feeling upset about it, it could be considered bullying. When bullying occurs online, it can involve unwanted attention from a wide range of people, including strangers. If you're not happy about it, you shouldn't have to tolerate it. Recognizing that everyone deserves respect, both online and in real life, is an important aspect of addressing cyberbullying [[1]].
2. What are the effects of cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying can have various effects on individuals. It can make them feel upset, embarrassed, or angry mentally. Emotionally, it can lead to feelings of shame or a loss of interest in things they love. Physically, it can cause tiredness due to loss of sleep or physical symptoms such as stomach aches and headaches. The feeling of being laughed at or harassed can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead to individuals taking their own lives. However, it's important to note that these effects can be overcome, and people can regain their confidence and health [[2]].
3. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?
If you believe you're being bullied online, it's important to seek help from someone you trust, such as your parents, a close family member, or a trusted adult like a teacher. If you're not comfortable talking to someone you know, you can search for a helpline in your country to talk to a professional counselor. If the bullying is happening on a social media platform, consider blocking the bully and formally reporting their behavior on the platform itself. Social media companies have an obligation to keep their users safe. Collecting evidence, such as text messages and screenshots of social media posts, can be helpful in showing what's been going on. Reporting bullying is key to stopping it and can also help demonstrate to the bully that their behavior is unacceptable. In immediate danger, contacting the police or emergency services in your country is recommended [[3]].
4. I am experiencing cyberbullying but I'm afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?
If you're experiencing cyberbullying but are afraid to talk to your parents about it, it's important to speak to a trusted adult who you feel safe talking to. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention and explain how serious the problem is for you. Keep in mind that your parents may not be as familiar with technology as you are, so you might need to help them understand what's happening. They may not have instant answers, but they are likely to want to help, and together you can find a solution. If you're still unsure about what to do, consider reaching out to other trusted people who may be able to offer support [[4]].
5. How can I help my friends report cyberbullying, especially if they don't want to do it?
If you see someone you know experiencing cyberbullying and they don't want to report it, it's important to offer support and listen to them. Find out why they don't want to report the bullying and how they're feeling. Let them know that they don't have to formally report anything, but it's crucial to talk to someone who might be able to help. Be kind to your friend, help them think through what they might say and to whom, and offer to go with them if they decide to report. Remind them that you're there for them and want to help. If your friend still doesn't want to report the incident, support them in finding a trusted adult who can help them deal with the situation. It's important to take action as doing nothing can leave the person feeling isolated and unsupported [[5]].
6. How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the internet?
While experiencing cyberbullying may make you want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while, completely getting off the internet is not a long-term solution. It's important to remember that you did nothing wrong, and you shouldn't be disadvantaged because of the actions of bullies. Instead, it's crucial to be thoughtful about what you share or say online to avoid hurting others. Being kind to one another online and in real life is essential. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are using technology to prevent and address cyberbullying. They provide tools to filter and hide bullying comments, customize your experience, and discreetly protect your account without having to block someone. These tools aim to encourage positive behavior and interactions while keeping users safe [[6]].
7. How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?
To prevent your personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate you on social media, it's important to think twice before posting or sharing anything online. Remember that what you share may stay online forever and could be used against you later. Avoid giving out personal details such as your address, telephone number, or the name of your school. Learn about the privacy settings of your favorite social media apps and adjust them accordingly. You can decide who can see your profile, send you direct messages, or comment on your posts. Additionally, you can report hurtful comments, messages, and photos and request their removal. Blocking or restricting specific accounts can also prevent them from seeing your profile or contacting you. Deleting posts or hiding them from specific people are other options available on most social media platforms. It's important to note that on many platforms, people aren't notified when you block, restrict, or report them [[7]].
8. Is there a punishment for cyberbullying?
Most schools take bullying seriously and will take action against it. If you're being cyberbullied by other students, it's important to report it to your school. Laws against bullying, particularly cyberbullying, are relatively new and may not exist everywhere. In countries with specific laws on cyberbullying, online behavior that deliberately causes serious emotional distress is seen as criminal activity. Victims of cyberbullying in these countries can seek protection and legal measures can be taken against the cyberbullies. However, it's important to note that punishment is not always the most effective way to change the behavior of bullies. Focusing on repairing the harm and mending the relationship can be more beneficial [[8]].
9. Internet companies don't seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?
Internet companies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of online bullying and harassment. Many of them are introducing tools, guidance, and ways to report online abuse to better protect their users. However, there is still more that can be done. It's important to hold technology companies accountable for protecting their users, especially children and young people. Raising awareness, advocating for change, and demanding action can help ensure that internet companies fulfill their responsibilities in addressing cyberbullying [[9]].
10. Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?
Social media platforms offer various tools to help keep young people safe and combat cyberbullying. These tools allow users to restrict who can comment on or view their posts, report cases of bullying, and block or mute accounts. Each platform has its own set of tools, and it's recommended to explore them to find the ones that suit your needs. Social media companies also provide educational resources and guidance for children, parents, and teachers to learn about online risks and ways to stay safe. Additionally, reaching out to trusted adults or helplines in your country can provide further support and assistance [[10]].
Please note that the information provided above is based on the content of the article you shared.
