CYBERBULLYING

Fig 1: Health Shots, 2021, https://www.healthshots.com/mind/mental-health/3-ways-in-which-cyberbullying-can-impact-your-mental-health/

 What is Cyberbullying?
• A form of bullying with the use of digital technologies to cause hurt or shame
• Involves a minimum of 2 people (perpetrator and victim)
• Can involve a large number of people indirectly as bystanders

Fig 2: Kids Helpline, 2022, https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/cyberbullying

What does Cyberbullying
look like? • Cyberbullies could be someone you know or a stranger
• Bullying can start face-to-face then continue online outside of school hours
• Sending hurtful messages or threats through the form of text messages, online gaming, chat rooms, social
media sites, apps or email
• Sharing photos or videos of an individual with intent to cause hurt or embarrassment
• Spreading rumours online
• Blackmail
• Stalking
• Preventing someone from communicating with others
• Setting up fake profiles in order to be anonymous during cyberbullying
• Logging into someone else’s social media accounts posting messages pretending to be them
• Setting up hate pages/groups

Fig 3: Tech & Learning, 2022, https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/what-is-cyberbullying

 Where is it
most
common?
• According to eSafety Commissioner (2021), 44%
of young Australians have had a negative
experience online in the past 6 months and 15%
who have received threats or abuse online in that
time.
• Females are more likely to be both victims and
perpetrators of online bullying
• Most common platforms where cyberbullying
Fig 4: Broadband Search, 2022, https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/cyber-bullying-statistics
occurs: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube,
Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok
 • Depression and anxiety
• Loneliness and isolation

What are the

• Feeling unsafe and scared
• Impacts on self-esteem
and confidence
• School absence/refusal
• Can lead to payback and

•
violence
Self-harm and suicidal
effects of
Cyberbullying?
thoughts/actions
• Digital footprint left online,
hard to remove bullying
content

Fig 5: Stopbullying.gov, (n.d.), https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it

 How to deal
with
Cyberbullying?
• Do not respond
• Block and delete the perpetrator
• Keep records (screenshot messages)
• Report cyberbullying activity – can be done
anonymously
• Talk to someone you trust
• Set up privacy options on social media sites (private
account, not public)
• Do not share private information online, such as photos,
passwords and addresses with strangers
• Support victims of bullying – ask if they are okay
• Do not forward on or add to bullying content
• Switch off from online platforms for a while

Fig 6: Poster My Wall, (n.d.), https://www.postermywall.com/index.php/poster/view/225b02dbeb845cb6478b8dffb29aaae6

 Where to get support
• eSafety Commissioner have an online submission form to
report any cyberbullying that is not successfully handled
by the platform that the incident happened on
https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/cyberbullying

• Kids Helpline by calling 1800 551 800 or using their

online resources/chat feature
https://kidshelpline.com.au/

• Seek help/guidance from a trusted person. E.g. parent,

teacher, counsellor or friend

• Public services such as the Police