Although we can’t control how others behave online, we can take steps to ensure our time online feels as safe as possible.
The idea of bullying isn’t just reserved for that one mean kid in elementary school anymore. With the amount of time both kids and adults spend online these days, bullying has now entered the digital world and affects people of all ages.
A Pew Research study on online harassment found that 40% of adults had been victims of online harassment and 60% of respondents had witnessed online abuse ranging from offensive name-calling and embarrassment to sexual harassment and stalking.
Although we can’t control how others behave online, we can take steps to ensure our time online feels as safe as possible. Check out the tips below on how to deal with cyberbullying, as well as what resources are available to help.
What Is Cyberbullying?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stopbullying.gov website defines cyberbullying as bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers and tablets. HHS states it can occur through text, email, instant messaging, online forums, chat rooms, gaming communities, message boards, and social networking sites like Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok.
According to HHS, Cyberbullying includes sending, posting or sharing negative, harmful, false or mean content about someone else. Some examples of cyberbullying could include:
- Sending someone mean texts or direct messages (DMs).
- Making threats
- Spreading rumors
- Verbally attacking someone
- Outing or trickery (gaining an individual’s trust and then using online media to distribute their secrets)
- Sharing personal information about someone else to cause embarrassment or humiliation
- Breaking into someone’s social media account and sending cruel or untrue messages while posing as that person
- Creating posts or social media accounts to make fun of another person
Tips for Responding to Cyberbullying
Based on research from the Cyberbullying Resource Center, here are some tips to help you respond to cyberbullying:
- Do not emotionally engage. It can be tough to ignore an individual’s insensitive or aggressive online behavior, but if you remain calm you don’t give them the satisfaction of provoking an emotional response. In addition, if you respond emotionally you may end up on the same level as the bully – saying things you don’t mean or hurtful to someone else.
- Evaluate your relationship. No one is required to maintain a relationship with everyone, whether online or through your personal connections. However, it can be more difficult to avoid a more personal connection -like a friend or family member- who displays behavior or speech that makes you uncomfortable. If the individual is a personal connection, consider using more direct communication to let the person know you feel offended. If the individual is someone from work, follow your employer’s policies and check with Human Resources about your options.
- Stop all communication. Depending on how an individual communicates, take all necessary steps to avoid unwanted communication. You can block their phone number, email, social media or any other place you’re being bothered. In general, limit the amount of personal information you share online and ensure your privacy settings reflect only those you want to include in your online world.
- Document it. Document and save all proof of any cyberbullying. Keep logs of the times and dates of each contact, take screenshots of purposely insensitive or aggressive messages, save emails and print out online conversations. Do this work right away in case the person decides to delete evidence of harassment. Documentation can help law enforcement build a case against cyberbullying behavior.
- Report abuse. Familiarize yourself with the Terms of Use or Help section for sites you frequent. Many sites prohibit harassment and list steps you can take to report and flag the harmful content. If an online situation gets excessive and you feel threatened or unsafe, alert local authorities. Each state has different laws regarding cyberbullying activity. Become familiar with your state’s statutes covering online behaviors and activities.
- Take a digital break. When it comes to news sites or social media platforms, you may become upset or angered by what you see or read. You may be tempted to respond and negatively engage with others. If so, consider taking a break from it all. You may want to consider unfollowing or blocking certain people or not visiting the sites altogether if it is impacting you even after you take a break.
- Reflect on your own online presence. Remember, even if it’s not intentional, your own content may end up offending or hurting others. Not every political thought, not every rant about someone you’re upset with, not every cruel joke or mean meme has to be shared or posted. You’re entitled free to express yourself, but what you find politically acceptable or what you find funny may not be how others feel. When your online presence becomes insensitive, hostile or angry, you may need to ask yourself: Am I doing more harm than good?
- Learn more. Check out the resources below to learn even more about cyberbullying.
Additional Resources
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suggests several resources for victims of cyberbullying and cyber harassment, including specific resources for victims of racial harassment, LBGTQ+ community harassment, and for victims being harassed by a partner, and more.
- VA also has a series of videos related to cyberbullying with topics such as Cyberbullying 101, Cyberbullying and Sexual Harassment, Microaggression and more.
- StopBullying.gov has a wide range of information and resources related to cyberbullying and what each of us can do to help prevent it.
- The Veterans Crisis Line offers 24/7 free, confidential crisis support to Veterans and their loved ones. If cyberbullying is taking its toll on you, reach out for help. Dial 988 and press 1. You can also text or chat with crisis line responders.