Reputation damage

Someone might harass or abuse a young person online by:

• creating and sharing fake or embarrassing images of them
• spreading damaging rumours or lies
• revealing their personal and private details

Things shared online might damage a child or young person’s reputation. False information may also damage the reputation of an organisation or online community.

Being physically harmed

Virtual abuse and harassment can lead to offline harms including:

• vandalism
• physical violence or assault
• prank calls or unwanted mail

This could happen at a person’s home or workplace.

Negative impact and disruption

A child or young person who has been abused or harassed online can feel a range of negative emotions. These include:

• anxiety
• depression
• fear
• frustration and anger
• feelings of self-harm or suicide

Harassment and abuse can stop someone from using the internet in the same way. For example, they may stop sharing their views and opinions, or set their accounts to private.

Online communities and groups can experience abuse and harassment too, which can make it more difficult for them to operate online.

Financial harm

Abuse and harassment can result in someone losing money online. For example, harassment might impact someone who earns money from live streaming or marketing products on social media. Campaigns of harassment could also lead to an audience decline and put off advertisers.

If a young person has personal information or materials stolen, they could become a target for blackmail. For example, someone could have to pay to retrieve private, sexual material. This is known as sextortion.

Reasons a child or young person might virtually abuse or harass someone include:

• boredom and amusement
• to get attention or a reaction
• disagreeing with a person or a group’s views or beliefs
• because anonymity provides safety
• being influenced by peers or others online, including pile-ons
• being unaware of the that impact harassment and abuse can have