We are told from a young age that everything you post online stays there forever. Many of us heed this warning when we contemplate pressing “share”. However, we aren’t always as mindful of what we post about others — or what they may post about us.
Roughly 78% of grade-school students in the United States have fallen victim to some form of cyberbullying. What used to be an issue that primarily stayed within school walls can now follow victims anywhere they have a screen — which for many is everywhere they go. It’s important for all internet users to recognize, report, and stop cyberbullying, so read on to learn more.
24/7 Helpline for Victims of Cyberbullying
If you’re being bullied online and need help now, call our U.S.-based cyberbullying hotline at (800) 849-6515. You don’t have to face this alone — our investigators will listen and guide you through your next steps. Whether it’s emotional support or technical guidance, we’re here to help.
Why Cyberbullying Is Dangerous and How It Affects Victims?
Any form of bullying can have negative ramifications on the victim’s mental and physical health. Cyberbullying is no exception, and some experts find it more dangerous than traditional bullying. Cyberbullies can post their harmful content anonymously to a virtually limitless audience.
Not only does this perpetuate and amplify the damage, but it also makes it more difficult to respond. It’s difficult to confront someone you don’t know. Likewise, cyberbullies are often emboldened by their anonymity and not having to face the victim.
Cyberbullying often targets younger people, and it may be more difficult for a trusted adult to advise on handling digital abuse. This is one of the reasons our experts recommend that all internet users educate themselves on cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying can even threaten an individual’s educational career. The mental toll can make it hard to focus, and the embarrassment can make students want to avoid school altogether. 60% of students said that cyberbullying affected their ability to perform and feel safe at school. An additional 10% skipped school at least once in the prior year as a result.
Where Does Cyberbullying Usually Happen?
Cyberbullying can take place on any platform that allows users to share content. It’s commonly seen on social media, messaging applications, and gaming platforms. Meta’s family of platforms were the highest reported for both witnessing and experiencing cyberbullying.
Who is Most at Risk?
Anyone who uses the internet could have a run in with a cyberbully, but minors are especially at risk. Girls and members of the LGBTQ+ community reported higher instances of cyberbullying than boys, with transgender youth targeted the most.
There is also a positive correlation between high internet usage and cyberbullying. Teens who expressed high levels of internet addiction reported a significant and similar jump in experienced hate speech, cyberbullying, and threats of violence.
Can cyberbullying become a crime
Cyberbullying can become a criminal offense if the harassment involves threats related to stalking, extortion, identity theft, or other illicit activities. While not every abusive comment warrants legal action, repeated abuse and credible threats may justify the involvement of law enforcement.
Signs Cyberbullying Is Getting Worse
Cyberbullying doesn’t always stay isolated to a few mean comments and harmful posts online. If you notice any of the following behaviors, the situation may be escalating and require further action:
- The bully starts making direct threats.
- They create fake accounts to continue contacting you.
- They share your private photos or personal information.
- They encourage other people to join in the harassment.
- The abuse spreads across multiple social media platforms.
- You begin feeling unsafe, anxious, or afraid in your daily life.
If any of these warning signs appear, you should save evidence and seek help as soon as possible. Acting early improves your chances of stopping the abuse and protecting your reputation.
How to know if cyberbullying has crossed the line into harassment
Cyberbullying can become online harassment if the behavior is repeated, targeted, and intended to inflict emotional distress on the victim. This can include continual unwanted contact, posts containing false information, or threats to your safety. These situations should be met with legal or professional intervention.
How To Stop Cyberbullying? What To Do if You’re Being Bullied Online?
The best thing a victim of cyberbullying can do is tell someone about what they are dealing with. This could be a friend, family member, or professional. There are people who are ready and able to help, and you should let them.
You will also want to collect evidence of the online bullying. Take screenshots of the account responsible and their posts, comments, or messages that are causing you harm. This evidence will help support any reports and legal action against the cyberbully.
You should also cut off communication with the cyberbully. Responding to cyberbullying attacks usually gives the cyberbully exactly what they want. Many cyberbullies are looking for attention or an emotional reaction. However, try to avoid blocking them. This may seem like an effective way to remove their ability to reach you, but blocking may permanently delete critical evidence. Instead of retaliating and potentially escalating the situation, save evidence and focus on reporting the behavior and protecting your accounts. Our experts recommend reporting and muting the user but keeping them unblocked until you’ve conducted a proper investigation.
What should employers do if workplace cyberbullying occurs?
Employers should have procedures in place to investigate workplace cyberbullying as soon as it is reported. This should include a clear system to document and report threats, as well as an effective strategy to review reports and take appropriate action. Having a protocol in place before a threat arises helps protect employees, prevent incidents from escalating, and promote a safer and more respectful work environment.
Legal or Platform-based Options for Stopping Cyberbullying
You should inform the platform where the cyberbullying occurred. This could be a social media network, gaming platform, or service provider. Go to the service’s official support page to learn the specific method for reporting.
There are also legal avenues the victim can take depending on the severity of the cyberbullying, especially if they want to Stop Harassment Legally through enforceable actions. If the cyberbully committed defamation or intentional infliction of emotional damage, you may be able to seek civil restitutions.
You may also pursue a criminal charge against the cyberbully if their actions have escalated to more serious illicit threats. These often include real-world threats of harm or actions that are explicitly criminalized, like identity theft.
There is also the option of applying for court-appointed protection from the perpetrator. However, all of these legal options will be difficult to enforce if the cyberbully is anonymous. Our experts advise working with digital forensic experts to identify the perpetrator and discussing your legal options with a lawyer.
What to do if the cyberbully creates new accounts after I report them
Cybercriminals may create new accounts to continue their abuse after being reported, restricted, or blocked on their original profile. If you are contacted by external accounts, avoid engaging, document evidence, and report each new profile. Documenting a pattern of repeated behavior across multiple accounts can strengthen reports and support identification efforts.
How to Protect Yourself After Cyberbullying
Your efforts should not end after the bullying has stopped. It’s important to continue strengthening your online security and expanding your digital awareness to reduce the chances of being targeted again. Start by implementing a few simple practices:
- Review your privacy settings on every social media account.
- Remove personal information that doesn’t need to be public.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts.
- Limit who can message, tag, or mention you.
- Search your name online to see what information is publicly available.
- Watch for fake accounts or suspicious activity that could signal continued harassment.
- Educate yourself on evolving tactics used to target individuals online.
Building better online safety habits makes it much harder for cyberbullies to target you in the future, and this starts with an improved understanding of the modern threat landscape.
Trusted Cyberbullying Hotlines and Resources for Cyberbullying Help
Cyberbullies look to isolate their victims, but it’s important to remember you are not alone. Our analysts recommend the following resources to help victims of cyberbullying with emotional support and legal assistance.
StopBullying.gov
This is a government resource offering prevention tips, reporting guidance, and support for victims. They partner with the Department of Education (ED), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of Justice (DOJ).
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI)
CCRI offers support and legal guidance for victims of online harassment, including non-consensual image sharing. Furthermore, they help advise lawmakers drafting legislation to cover these issues.
National Bullying Prevention Center (PACER)
PACER issues educational materials and resources for minors, parents, and educators. This includes guides that can be used at home or in the classroom. Additionally, they founded awareness initiatives like National Bullying Prevention Month and Unity Day.
Cyberbullying Research Center
This organization provides information on cyberbullying for those who work with young people. Furthermore, they include stories from past victims and resources that can help those currently dealing with cyberbullying.
How Digital Experts and Investigators Can Help Stop Cyberbullying
Working with digital forensic professionals can help you gather information on the perpetrator and evidence of the crime that wouldn’t be possible alone. These experts utilize proprietary technology to extract data embedded deep within the code of online interactions.
Not only does this data contain critical evidence, but it can also reveal the cyberbully’s identity if they acted anonymously. These are both necessary elements to your case if you decide to take legal action against the perpetrator.
Speaking of legal action, a reputable digital investigation firm will document their entire investigation to maintain the chain of custody. You should confirm that the team you work with prioritizes documentation to ensure the report will be admissible as evidence.
FAQ
Can deleted cyberbullying posts still be investigated?
Deleted posts can still provide valuable evidence in some cases. Screenshots of deleted content, platform records, and witness reports may help investigators reconstruct what happened. Deleted content may be temporarily stored on the platform’s servers, and legal requests may require them to supply this data to investigators. It’s important to document and report abusive content as soon as possible to improve your chances of securing critical evidence.
Can digital forensic experts identify anonymous cyberbullies?
A digital forensics investigation can sometimes reveal the true identity of anonymous cyberbullies. Technical evidence such as IP information and metadata can be combined with documented account activity and communication patterns. When analyzed together, this information may bypass fake usernames and uncover the perpetrator.
Can cyberbullying happen in private group chats?
Private group chats are one of the most common avenues for cyberbullying. Perpetrators may send hurtful messages, spread rumors or embarrassing content, and isolate victims from their support system. Furthermore, content shared in private communications can be quickly spread publicly to inflict emotional distress.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Dr. Viktor Sobiecki
Currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Digital Forensics Corporation, where responsibilities span the leadership of advanced cybersecurity initiatives, data breach incident responses, and corporate strategic planning.
