What is Cyberbullying?
- Emailing or texting threatening or nasty messages to people
- Posting an embarrassing or humiliating video of someone on a video-hosting site such as YouTube.
- Harassing someone by repeatedly sending texts or instant messages in a chat room.
- Setting up profiles on social networking sites, such as Facebook, to make fun of someone.
- 'Happy slapping', which is when people use their mobiles to film and share videos of physical attacks.
- Posting or forwarding someone else's personal or private information or images without their permission.
- Sending viruses that can damage another person's computer.
- Making abusive comments about another user on a gaming site.
Don't let yourself get dragged into cyberbullying. Think about the impact of what you say in text messages, chat rooms and emails. Could your words be used to hurt someone else, or could they be turned against you?
- In some instances cyberbullying is a criminal offence, particularly if there is evidence of harassment of threatening behaviour. 'Happy slapping', which is when people use their mobiles to film and share videos of physical attacks.
- Posting or forwarding someone else's personal or private information or images without their permission.
- Sending viruses that can damage another person's computer.
- Making abusive comments about another user on a gaming site.
How to avoid Cyberbullying?
The best way to avoid cyberbullying is to use the internet and mobile phones carefully.
- Don't give out personal details such as your phone number or address, in a chat room
- Think carefully before posting photos or videos of you or your friends
- Only give your mobile number to close friends
- Protect passwords. and never give your friends access to your accounts
- Don't forward nasty emails
- Learn how to block instant messages or use mail filters to block emails
- Know how to report bullying to internet service providers or website admins. Ask a parent or teacher for help, or look at the advice website
Where to get help if you are experiencing cyberbullying
- Talk to someone you trust. This could be a teacher, parent, carer or friend. Schools have a responsibility to ensure that students aren't bullied, and they can take action even if the bullying is happening outside school
- Report the bullying to the internet service provider (ISP) if the bullying happened online. Ask a parent or teacher for help, or look at Childnet, which has safety advice about mobiles and internet use
- Report the bullying to your mobile phone provider if you've received bullying texts or calls on your mobile. You may even have to change your number if you're repeatedly bullied through your phone
- Block instant messages and emails
- Report serious bullying, such as physical or sexual threats, to the police
Do not:
- Delete the upsetting emails or messages. Keep the evidence. This will help to identify the bully if the bullying is anonymous. Even people who use a false name or email can be traced
- Reply to messages/texts. This is what the bully wants, and it might make things worse
Sexting
Cyberbullying is the use of technology such as mobile phones and the internet to bully other people. Coping with cyberbullying can be difficult because it can happen at any time of the day.
For advice and support please contact your School Nursing Team:
Here is the NHS Live Well website on Cyberbullying
See Joe's story
