Cyberbullying
Also known as:
- bullying
- online bullying
- online harrassment
What is Risk ?
Digital risk factors associated with their interests and activities
Cyberbullying can have a psychological, social, or physical impact on someone.
Cyberbullying can happen in different ways, including when a person:
- sends hurtful or threatening text messages
- uses in-game chat to spam or harass
- impersonates someone through social media
- distributes fake or embarrassing photos of someone
- shares someone’s personal information – also known as doxxing
- organises a pile-on
- excludes people from online spaces or groups
- hacks of someone’s social media accounts
- uses artificial intelligence to create bullying content
The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying behaviours as being intentionally hurtful and repetitive, meaning they happen more than once. It also suggests that bullying often involves an imbalance of power.
Risks and motivations
Risks
Harassment, intimidation, or disruption
Cyberbullying can make people extremely upset. People can feel:
- anxious
- frustrated
- depressed
- like self-harming
- suicidal
Cyberbullying might make it more difficult for someone to share their views or to interact with others. Someone who has been cyberbullied may become withdrawn.
Physical harm
A young person can be harassed offline as a result of cyberbullying. This might take place at someone’s home, place of study, or work. Offline harms could include:
- property damage and vandalism
- unwanted mail or contact
- physical violence
Being bullied online can also negatively impact offline relationships with peers, friends, or family members.
Reputational damage
Cyberbullies might:
- spread rumours about a young person
- reveal details about a young person's private life
- share embarrassing or fake images and videos of a young person
Information or images shared online can damage a young person's reputation.
Motivations
There are several reasons why a young person could engage in cyberbullying. They might:
- be unaware of how hurtful cyberbullying behaviours can be
- believe they will remain anonymous
- believe the repercussions might be less severe than with offline bullying
- find it funny to harass or troll others online
- be influenced by peers
Young people’s voice
Noah found out people had been making fun of him in a group chat he was no longer part of. Initially, he experienced direct harm after being repeatedly bullied online by some children who he had previously been friends with. This had included them logging into his account on an online gaming platform, spending his in-game currency, and sharing a picture of him with an embarrassing filter. “There was the filter that puts you on a wanted poster and says, ‘dead or alive’. Noah was most affected when he was sent a screenshot of conversations people had been having about his dad, who had passed away a few years previously. Noah was particularly upset by these jokes, compared to some of the others that had been directed at him, as they felt targeted and personal to him. “The big question is why. Why were they doing this stuff to me over and over again? I don’t talk to them anymore.
14-year-old
Risk factors that may lead to harm online, Revealing Reality, 2022
What you can do
Some platforms have policies against behaviours like spamming, offensive comments, or hate speech.
You could help a young person contact a specific platform or website where if they have been cyberbullied. You might also look at any blocking and reporting features.
If a young person attends a school you could consider contacting the school directly.
Section 89 of the Education and Inspections Act (2006) states that all maintained schools must have measures which encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying. Anti-bullying measures will either be part of a school’s behaviour policy, or part of a specific anti-bullying policy.
Bullying is not a specific criminal offence in the UK. However, some types of harassing, threatening, or disruptive behaviour could qualify as a criminal offence under:
- The Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- The Malicious Communications Act 1988
- The Communications Act 2003
- The Public Order Act 1986
Examples of behaviours which are illegal are:
- threats to kill or to cause somebody harm
- hacking into a computer or network
- hate speech, like racism or homophobia
- revenge porn
You may be working with a young person who has cyberbullied someone.
Consider whether this behaviour is a concern for their safety. You should also consider whether any of their behaviours might be a criminal offence.
If you think that a young person is at risk, follow your safeguarding procedure and read our safeguarding guidance.
Support
If a young person tells you they've been cyberbullied, you could:
- report abuse and to block others where possible
- look at available privacy settings on personal accounts
- collect evidence of cyberbullying, like screenshots
- discuss how personally responding to cyberbullying is not always helpful
- discuss whether or not the bullying has had an offline impact
- discuss why it was the right decision to talk to a trusted adult – like a parent or teacher – about the bullying
A parent or teacher might also be able to help offset some of the negative impacts of cyberbullying.
Read more about cyberbullying
- The effects of cyberbullying (BMC Psychiatry) – Journal
- The impact of cyberbullying (Journal of Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics) – Journal
- An introduction to cyberbullying (Journal of Cybersecurity and Cognitive Science) – File
- Bystander responses to cyberbullying (Science Direct) – Website
- Cyberbullying: An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Related to Offending and Victimization (Deviant Behaviour Journal) – Website
Share your experience of cyberbullying
You can tell us about:
- other terms you might have heard
- conversations you’ve had with young people
- a related platform or app
- another related risk or harm