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Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of digital technologies—such as social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms—to repeatedly harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person or persons. It involves sending or posting harmful, false, or unkind content, and can include sharing private information or intimate images/videos to cause humiliation.

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Examples of cyberbullying include:

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  • Sending mean text messages

  • Spreading rumours and gossip on social media

  • Posting or re-sharing embarrassing or inappropriate pictures

  • Creating fake profiles and posting embarrassing content of someone

  • Creating embarrassing fake images or videos of someone i.e. Deepfakes, using AI tools

  • Constantly sending threating or harassing comments on social media

The Effects of Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can cause severe emotional, behavioural, and physical health consequences, often made worse by the relentless and public nature of online harassment. Because it occurs digitally, victims often feel unable to escape the abuse, even in the safety of their own homes.

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Some specific negative effects of cyber bullying include:

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  • Decline in Academic Performance

  • Social isolation

  • Low self-esteem

  • Depression

  • Chronic Anxiety

  • Self-harm

  • Suicidal thoughts

Supporting Victims of Cyberbullying

Supporting a victim of cyberbullying starts with listening without judgment, securing evidence, and empowering them to report the abuse. Never advise a victim to retaliate or respond to the bully. Instead, focus on preserving their safety, documenting the harassment, and blocking the aggressor(s). Always take the following steps:

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1.    Document the Evidence

Take Screenshots: Capture all abusive comments, messages, images, and the bully's profile information before any content is deleted.

Keep Timestamps: Note the dates and times the harassment occurred, as this helps authorities and platform administrators investigate.

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2.    Block and Restrict

Use Platform Tools: Utilise the block, mute, and unfollow buttons on every social media app, gaming server, or messaging platform.

Filter Comments: Turn on privacy settings that restrict who can tag, mention, or message the victim.

Contact your Mobile Phone Company: If the harassment is via SMS, contact your mobile phone provider to block numbers or change the phone number.

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3.   Report the Abuse

Social Media Providers: Report the bullying to the specific app or website using their established community guidelines and confidential reporting mechanisms.

Schools: If the bully is a peer at school or if it spills over into the classroom, inform teachers or the school counsellor.

Law Enforcement: If the threats involve physical harm, extortion (like sextortion), or severe stalking, report the abuse to local law enforcement.

Preventing Cyberbullying

Parents/Guardians

Parents/guardians can do the following to help prevent their children becoming victims of cyber bullying, or from becoming cyber bullies themselves.

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Talk openly: Frequently discuss online risks and appropriate digital behaviour. Ensure your child knows the difference between real friends and friendly strangers.

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Set standards: Establish rules about what is acceptable to view or share online. Make it clear that they shouldn't say or post anything online that they wouldn't say in person.

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Encourage empathy: Educate your child about the harmful effects of cyberbullying and hate speech.

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Use monitoring apps: Consider monitoring your child’s social media use. Programs and apps are available that can monitor kids' social media accounts and alert you to any inappropriate language or photos. Some can give detailed reports of a child's browsing history and tell you how much time they spent online and on what site. Consider your child’s age and digital behaviour when deciding whether to monitor devices. Then, if you choose to monitor, talk to them about it and explain why it's important.

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Know what sites/apps your child uses: Encourage kids and teens to teach you about the websites/apps they use. This shows that you are interested in how they spend their time online, while helping you understand how to best monitor their online safety.

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Be part of your kids' online world: Ask to "friend" or "follow" your child on social media sites. Check their posts and the sites they visit, and be more aware of how they spend their time online.

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Put it in writing: Write smartphone and social media contracts for your kids that you're willing to enforce.

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Children & Young People

Children & young people can take action against cyberbullying by doing the following:

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  • Keeping social media accounts private.

  • Turn off location sharing.

  • Report online bullying to the social media platform.

  • Report online bullying to a trusted adult.

  • Don't share personal information online, including phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses etc.

  • Don't respond to bullying messages.

  • Don't participate in cyberbullying by commenting on, or re-sharing images/videos.​

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Above all else also remember the golden rule: “Treat others the way you would want to be treated”.

Contacts

St Helena Secondary School

St Helena KS1 School 

St Helena KS2 School 

Inclusion 

+ (290) 24290

+ (290) 24737

+ (290) 22540

+ (290) 24543

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