Online Bullying
Online bullying, sometimes called cyberbullying, can happen across social media, messaging apps, online games, group chats, and other online spaces. If someone is targeting, humiliating or upsetting you online, there are steps you can take to report it and protect yourself.
What is online bullying?
Online bullying is when someone uses the internet or technology to target, upset, embarrass, intimidate or humiliate another person.
It can happen anywhere people communicate online, including social media platforms, messaging apps, gaming platforms, forums, and group chats.
Online bullying can include:
Sending abusive, insulting or hurtful messages
Posting embarrassing or humiliating content about someone
Spreading rumours or false information online
Making cruel comments on someone's photos, videos or posts
Creating fake accounts or profiles to mock or impersonate someone
Sharing someone's personal information without their permission
Encouraging other people to target someone
Online bullying can feel particularly difficult because it doesn't always stop when you leave school, work, or another physical space. Posts and messages can be shared quickly, seen by lots of people, and, in some cases, the person responsible may be anonymous.
Not every upsetting comment or disagreement online will necessarily be bullying. People can disagree, criticise each other or have negative interactions online. However, behaviour can become more concerning when it is repeated, targeted, threatening, humiliating or intended to cause distress.
What does the law say about online bullying?
There isn't one specific UK law against online bullying or cyberbullying, and not everything that feels upsetting, offensive or unkind online will be illegal.
However, online bullying can sometimes become more serious and cross into behaviour that may be against the law.
Depending on what is happening, this could include:
Threatening messages
Threats of violence
Stalking behaviour
Deliberately sending certain false or threatening communications
Repeated unwanted contact or harassment
Abusive behaviour targeted at someone because of their identity
The Online Safety Act 2023 also places legal responsibilities on regulated online services to protect UK users, including adults, from illegal content and activity. Platforms must assess the risks of illegal content appearing on their services, have measures in place to reduce those risks and provide ways for users to report illegal content.
This doesn't mean that every instance of online bullying has to be removed under the Online Safety Act. However, where bullying involves behaviour that may be illegal, platforms may have additional responsibilities under the Act.
What if the bullying isn't illegal?
Something doesn't necessarily have to be against the law for you to report it.
Social media platforms, messaging services, forums and other online spaces have their own community guidelines or terms of service. These often include rules around bullying, harassment, abusive behaviour, threats, and targeting other users.
This means that even if online bullying isn't a criminal offence, it may still break the platform's rules and can still be reported.
If you have already reported harmful content to a platform and you're unhappy with the response, we may be able to help you understand what you can do next.
How do I report online bullying?
If you're being bullied online, there are things you can do to report what's happening and make it harder for the person to continue contacting you:
Save the evidence
Before deleting messages or blocking an account, take screenshots of the bullying where possible. It can also help to save usernames, profile links, URLs and the dates and times that things happened.
Report the content to the platform
Most social media sites, messaging apps and gaming platforms allow you to report posts, messages and accounts. When you report online bullying, choose the reporting option that best describes what's happening. Depending on the platform, this might be listed as bullying, harassment, abusive behaviour, threats or hate.
Block, mute or restrict the account
Once you've saved any evidence you need, consider blocking or restricting the person responsible. You can also check your privacy settings and limit who can message you, comment on your posts, tag you, or view your account.
Try not to engage
It can be tempting to reply or defend yourself, but this can sometimes lead to more messages or abuse. Once you've saved the evidence you need, you may find it more helpful to stop engaging and use the platform blocking and reporting tools.
Tell someone
You don't have to deal with online bullying on your own. Speak to someone you trust about what's happening.
Report serious behaviour to the police
Some online bullying can cross over into more serious behaviour. If you're receiving threats, being repeatedly harassed or stalked, being targeted because of your identity, or someone is sharing or threatening to share intimate images of you, you may also want to report this to the police.
Already reported it to the platform?
If you have reported harmful content to a platform and you're unhappy with the response, We can help you understand your options and what you can do next.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.
Where can I get further support
Being bullied online can have a real impact on how you feel, particularly when it feels like there's no escape from what's being posted or said.
If you're struggling with online bullying, there are organisations that can offer additional advice and emotional support.