What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying using online devices to bully or hurt someone else on purpose.

Cyberbullying can involve the internet, a mobile phone or camera. It is more common among children and teenagers.

Cyberbullying can include:

• sending or sharing nasty, hurtful or abusive messages or emails
• humiliating others by posting or sharing embarrassing videos or images
• spreading rumours or lies online
• setting up fake online profiles
• excluding others online
• repeated harassment or threatening messages (cyberstalking)

A cyberbully might work in secret, keeping their real identity hidden. Sometimes several cyberbullies work together. They can target their victim in different ways, including:

• emails, phone calls, texts and instant messaging services
• online chat rooms and discussion groups
• social media
• photo-sharing and video-sharing applications (apps)
• blogs and websites

What makes cyberbullying so hurtful?

Cyberbullying can happen anywhere, including in the home, school or workplace. This can make these places feel unsafe or threatening.

Cyberbullying can be as hurtful as physical or verbal bullying for a few reasons:

• It's public and lots of people can see it.
• It spreads quickly.
• It can be hard to escape.
• You may not know who the bully is.
• Removing it can be difficult.

What are examples of cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying comes in many forms, for example, if:

• you receive hurtful text messages, whether it's from someone you know or someone you don't know
• a nasty, threatening or rude message about you appears on social media sites or internet forums
• photos and videos meant to hurt or embarrass you are sent to you or other people
• rumours about you are spread by email, text messages or on social media sites
• people use your social media account to hurt or humiliate you
• someone attempts to prevent you from communicating online with other people
• someone pretends to be you, or posts messages or status updates from your accounts

Cyberbullying can also involve someone stealing your passwords or hacking into your accounts to change information.

What are the effects of cyberbullying?

The effects of cyberbullying depend on the person and the situation. Impacts of cyberbullying can include:

• poor school or work performance
• feeling stress, anxiety or anger
• feeling scared, alone, guilty or ashamed
• sadness or depression
• low self-esteem and confidence
• physical effects such as weight changes or eating disorders

Children who are victims of cyberbullying might:

• seem moodier than usual
• avoid school
• be uncomfortable around electronic devices
• drop out of social activities
• avoid activities that they used to enjoy

Cyberbullying can increase the likelihood of substance abuse.

In some situations, the cyberbullying can lead to suicide. This is more common in teenagers.

How can I deal with and prevent cyberbullying?

There are things you can do to address or avoid cyberbullying:

• Talk to someone you trust — a relative, a school counsellor, a friend or a workmate.
• 'Block' or 'unfriend' the bully and change your privacy settings.
• Share your login details only with people you trust.
• Take screenshots of emails or social media conversations — you might need them as evidence.
• Report the post, image or message. Ask someone you trust to help you if you don't know how.
• Do not forward or share the post or message to friends or workmates. It is better to leave a group or conversation than to join in or reply.

If you or someone you know is a victim of cyberbullying, you can report the incidents to eSafety.

It is important for children to learn about cyberbullying and how to stay safe online. Schools may have cyberbullying and cyber safety lessons as part of bullying prevention programs.

Social media age restrictions

The Australian Government has passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 to restrict the use of some social media platforms to people aged 16 and above. This will begin in December 2025.

The act aims to create a safer online environment and protect younger people from cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate online content.

What can I do to help someone who is being cyberbullied?

If someone you know or care about is being bullied, here are some tips:

• Encourage them to talk openly about what's happening and how it makes them feel.
• Reassure them that you are in this together.
• Help them plan how to respond to and cope with the bullying — you can role-play the situation to practise responses.
• Suggest they see a health professional to talk things through.
• Identify practical steps and strategies together — who they can talk to at school, work or sport and what they can do when the bullying is happening.

Resources and support

If you or someone you know experiences cyberbullying, there are support services that can help:

• Lifeline (13 11 14) is a free and confidential service staffed by trained telephone counsellors.
• Office of the eSafety Commissioner helps victims of cyberbullying.
• Visit the Australian Government's eSafety and parents website.

To report cyberbullying incidents

• Call the police on triple zero (000) if you feel you are in danger.
• Youth Law Australia provides legal information to children and young people in Australia.
• The Australian Human Rights Commission (1300 656 419) has a complaint handling service that may investigate complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying.

Resources for children being cyberbullied

• Call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 for help and advice. This is a free and confidential telephone counselling service for people from 5 to 25 years of age.
• Learn more about cyberbullying at Reachout.com.
• For more information on bullying prevention visit Bullying No Way
• You can find Easy Read information about online safety on the eSafety website.

Languages other than English

• The Australian Government's eSafety website has resources translated into many community languages.
• Bullying No Way has fact sheets on bullying in a range of community languages:
  • signs of bullying
  • some facts about bullying and violence
  • types of bullying
• Fair Work Commission has translated information in community languages about workplace regulations.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• The eSafety Commissioner provides resources to help you stay safe online.
• Be Deadly Online has videos for cyber safety and security.
• Bullying No Way has resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, including information for schools, students, families and carers.

Information for sexually and gender-diverse families

• QLife has a counselling and referral service for LGBTIQA+ people: call 1800 184 527 or chat online.