Cyberbullying and online abuse

Cyberbullying happens online and involves repeated behaviour intended to hurt, embarrass or scare someone.^1,2 It can take place anywhere on the internet, including on social media, messaging apps, online games and mobile phones. Unfortunately, because cyberbullying is carried out online, and because our mobile devices are always with us, it can affect people wherever they are, for instance, at home, work or school, or even when walking down the street.³

Examples of cyberbullying include:^1-3

• sending abusive or threatening messages
• spreading rumours
• posting humiliating content
• sharing private information without consent
• creating fake accounts or impersonating someone
• using AI-generated content to bully them
• excluding someone from online groups, chats, or games
• group harassment or blackmail  

The consequences of cyberbullying can be profound when it comes to mental health. This is especially the case because online abuse can spread quickly, reach large audiences and leave people feeling unable to escape its reach.  

As a result, cyberbullying effects on mental health may include the following:^2,4,5

• anxiety, nervousness, stress and emotional distress
• low self-esteem, shame, embarrassment and insecurity
• negative thoughts and self-criticism
• loneliness and withdrawal from friends and family
• depression and difficulty trusting others  
• feeling overwhelmed
• self-harm
• suicidal thoughts

Seeking early support may help reduce its impact, which is why it’s essential to recognise the signs of cyberbullying.

If you find yourself the target of online harassment, or you’re trying to prevent someone else being cyberbullied, you may find the following suggestions useful.  

• Do not engage: Avoid retaliating or replying to the bully, as this could encourage their behaviour.⁶ 
• Save evidence: Take screenshots or save evidence of abuse, because harassment – whether online or offline – is a crime under UK laws.⁷ 
• Use platform tools: Built-in safety features, like blocking, muting and restricting, can help limit the bully from accessing your profile.² 
• Report and flag: Most platforms have community guidelines that users must follow. If these guidelines state that abuse will not be tolerated, then you could use the site’s ‘report’ function to flag abusive comments.² 
• Check privacy settings: Go through your privacy settings to make sure your accounts are set to ‘private’ or ‘friends only’ to prevent strangers from seeing your posts. Also, you may be able to filter direct messages, review tagging options or remove personal information.⁶ 

You don’t have to wait until cyberbullying feels overwhelming to seek help. If it’s affecting your mood, relationships, or ability to cope with daily life, you could find it helpful to ask for support.  

Furthermore, if cyberbullying includes threats of violence or illegal behaviour, you are within your rights to report it to the appropriate authorities, such as the police.  

Cyberbullying can have a profound impact on our affect mental health. But by recognising the signs and seeking support, you can reduce its affect. If you or someone you know is affected by cyberbullying, the following organisations may be able to help: 

• Kidscape: A bullying prevention charity offering practical support, advice and workshops to help parents and carers navigate cyberbullying. 
• Internet Matters: An organisation offering age-specific guides, safety advice and steps on how to report abusive behaviour on social networks. 
• CALM Helpline and webchat: If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts or are at risk of harm, call the CALM helpline on 0800 58 58 58 or use their webchat service.