Cyberbullying: Recognizing It and What to Do
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What you will learn
- 1Define cyberbullying and describe how it differs from in-person bullying
- 2Recognize cyberbullying scenarios from everyday digital situations
- 3Apply the correct steps to take when cyberbullying occurs
Mini Lesson
Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology — such as messages, social media, games, or online videos — to deliberately hurt, embarrass, or threaten another person. Unlike face-to-face bullying, cyberbullying can happen at any time of day and can spread quickly to many people.
What Cyberbullying Looks Like
- Sending mean, hurtful, or threatening messages to someone online.
- Posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone without their permission.
- Spreading rumors or lies about someone through messages or social media.
- Leaving someone out of online groups on purpose to make them feel excluded.
- Pretending to be someone else online (this is called impersonation) to trick or embarrass them.
What to Do If You Are Cyberbullied
- Do not respond — replying often makes things worse.
- Save the evidence — take a screenshot so you have proof.
- Block the person — use the block feature on the app or game.
- Tell a trusted adult — a parent, grandparent, or coach can help.
- Report it — use the in-app report button to flag the bullying behavior.
What to Do If You See Cyberbullying Happen to Someone Else
- Do not share, like, or comment on the hurtful content.
- Send a private message of support to the person being bullied.
- Report the content using the app or platform tools.
- Tell a trusted adult about what you have seen.
Words to know
Cyberbullying
Being mean or hurtful to someone using messages, posts, or pictures online
e.g. Cyberbullying can hurt as much as in-person bullying.
Bystander
Someone who sees bullying happen and chooses how to respond
e.g. A kind bystander tells a trusted adult.
Block
A setting that stops someone from contacting you online
e.g. I used the block button to stop the messages.
Report
To tell a trusted adult or platform about cyberbullying
e.g. I report the messages so they can be removed.
Trusted adult
A grown-up you can turn to for help
e.g. I told a trusted adult right away.
Remember: if you would not say it to someone's face, do not type it. Words on a screen hurt just as much as words spoken aloud.
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