Dealing with online bullying

If you're experiencing online bullying, it's crucial to remember one key thing: stay calm, don't retaliate, and document everything. Tell a trusted adult like an educator, parent, or guardian. Seeking help when things become serious is vital. It is important to remember that it can be scary and daunting however, talking to someone about these issues can make people feel more at ease and feel better about what is happening. It isn't weak to Speak!

Frequently asked questions

At 'Growing up online: Keeping kids safe and kind', we understand that dealing with online bullying can be difficult. This page aims to provide calm, supportive, and non-judgemental advice for primary school-aged children and their parents or guardians in Australia, fostering an open environment where everyone feels comfortable and hopeful, not scared.

What are the top 2-3 things you'd tell a primary school kid to do straight away if they're getting mean messages or being trolled?

It is important to tell a teacher or trusted adult about the situation at hand. 

You should take screenshots of the messages or if it said over a call to then write down what has been said, along with the gamer tag or account and try to document and take notes of everything.

Blocking the accounts can help in these crucial moments as they can no longer contact you and they can no longer be near you when you are online.

You always have the right to be safe online and it is important that when someone is being mean to you constantly that it is not okay and they should never treat another human this way!

Why is it important to document?

It is crucial to document everything so that way parents or trusted adults can know what is being said and it can assist with stopping the harassment.

It adds to the records of bullying and it can protect the victims mental health.

it is also important in case of the chance the authorities need to be inlvoed they have the evidence for this case.  

How can I document online bullying?

You can take screenshots of messages, comments, or posts. Make sure to capture the date and time, and the username of the person sending the messages. If you are on a call or videoing you can screen record the words or videos or you can write down what is being said along with the accounts that said these things.

What if I don't want to tell an adult?
It can feel scary to talk about these things, but adults are there to help you. They can offer support and practical steps to make the bullying stop. You don't have to face this alone.