Instagram has grown to become a powerful digital platform with millions of daily active users and a strict policy to eliminate hate speach, bullying, violence, abuse, and spam. As their popularity has grown, Instagram moderators have become more depend on users of the platform to report accounts posts and comments that violate their guidelines. Here’s a quick look at online bullying, and what happens when you report someone on Instagram for bullying.
Is Online Bullying Illegal?
The short answer to this is yes – online bullying is illegal. To combat the growing issue of online bullying, more than 45 states have passed laws aimed at strictly penalizing cyberbullying to date. In US legislation, there is little distinction between cyberbullying and cyberstalking, but generally cyberbullying is the term used when minors involved, and cyberstalking refers to adults. Cyberbullying legislation has faced pushback due to First Amendment concerns, and a typical defense argument against cyberbullying will cite the First Amendment since there is as of yet no clear legislation defining cyberbullying policies. At this time, cyberbullying scams are generally handled at the state level. The definition of online bullying can still be quite nuanced however, and a closer look is needed to understand what types of behaviors cross the line.
Different Types of Online Bullying on Instagram
Let’s take a look at some of these different forms this destructive behavior takes in today’s digital world. There are a number of behaviors that are defined as cyberbullying, the most common being the following:
- Exclusion – target might be deliberately left out of chat threads or uninvited to social gatherings that friends are going to.
- Harassment – a broad category of bullying that typically refers to consistent hurtful or threatening online messages, and one of the most important behaviors to address when trying to Stop Harassment Legally.
- Doxing – Revealing some ones personal information on the internet.
- Cyberstalking – a form of online bullying that can involve real and material threats, online monitoring, false accusations, and verbal abuse. It has even been known to cross into physical stalking in some cases.
- Tricking – A form of bullying in which the bully will befriend the target to extract personal information that will be used against them at a later time.
- Fraping – A form of bullying in which the bully will create social media accounts impersonating the target and post inappropriate material to tarnish their reputation.
- Masquerading – A form of bullying in which an online profile is made with the primary intention of bullying someone. These accounts will typically not reveal who the person behind them is.
- Dissing – A form of bullying in which the bully will spread malicious information about their target via online posts and private messages.
- Trolling – A form of bullying in which the bully will seek to find ways to deliberately upset their target/s using online material and posts. Trolling is considered online bullying when it is done with malicious intent.
- Flaming – A form of bullying in which the bully will directly insult and verbally assault their target, via private messages or via posts. Similar to trolling, flaming is a more direct form of communication with the target.
What Happens When You Report Someone On Instagram For Bullying?
Once a post, account, or comment is reported, a team of moderators will receive the notification and review the complaint accordingly. Depending on the context of the complaint, they may then decide to take action against the complaint by having an account banned, or have a post or comment deleted. If multiple users report on the same piece of material, Instagram will view this as priority. Unfortunately, Instagram may not always decide to take action on the reported item. Oftentimes stolen accounts will remain present on the platform despite the coordinated efforts of a group of friends to have an imposter account removed. This includes situations where an Instagram account is hacked and used to bully or impersonate others. Since Instagram prioritizes reports on hate speech, nudity, and other malicious items, scam accounts that seek to get users off the platform without using abusive language often fall by the wayside, which can make it harder for victims trying to report Instagram blackmail when a scam escalates.
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Taking a Stand Against Instagram Abuse and Cyberbullying
Instagram is committed to keeping their environment safe for all by strictly eliminating any type of instagram harassment, violence, abuse, spam or hate speech from its network. Even if a report does not result in any action on behalf of the company, Instagram still makes a note of the reports a user made and their algorithm will adjust accordingly to show users less of that kind of material in the future. If you or someone you know is dealing with online bullying or is blackmailed on Instagram, reach out to one of our specialists to learn how to report cyberbullying and get the support you need.
FAQ
Instagram does not tell users who reported them. Reports on Instagram are submitted anonymously to protect the person making the complaint from retaliation or further abuse. While the reported account may notice that content was removed or their access was restricted, Instagram does not reveal the identity of the individual who filed the report.
If Instagram does not remove the content, you should continue documenting the bullying and explore additional options. Make sure to save screenshots of harmful content, report any new violations, and secure your Instagram account. You should also contact local law enforcement if the behavior includes threats, stalking, or the sharing of private information.
Repeated bullying on Instagram can become a police matter if it crosses into criminal behavior. This includes threats of violence, stalking, extortion, doxxing, or persistent bullying that violates state or local laws. If you feel unsafe or the abuse escalates, you should report the incident to law enforcement immediately. Contact the emergency number in your region if you believe your safety is in immediate danger, such as 9-1-1 in the United States.
Instagram bullying frequently occurs through Direct Messages. Threatening messages, unwanted explicit content, and repeated abusive communication are common forms of private cyberbullying. These messages should be preserved as evidence before blocking the sender or deleting the chat. Make sure to report these messages to Instagram and law enforcement if they cross over into criminal threats.
Fake Instagram accounts can and should be reported for bullying. Many cyberbullies create anonymous or impersonation accounts to hide their identities and lower their risks of being held accountable. Reporting these profiles helps Instagram investigate the abuse and may prevent the account from targeting additional victims. Make sure to save any relevant evidence from your interaction. Digital forensics investigators may be able to analyze metadata and other technical evidence that can be connected to devices, accounts, or network activity associated with the perpetrator’s true identity.
Parents can reduce the risk of cyberbullying by staying involved in their children’s online activity. This can be done by encouraging open conversations, reviewing privacy settings together, and teaching children about cybersecurity awareness and safe online practices. Cyberbullying can leave victims feeling isolated and helpless, but early communication may help your child navigate the emotional turmoil and prevent the bullying from escalating further.
You should generally report the account before blocking it. Reporting first helps preserve access to the profile and any abusive content while Instagram reviews the complaint. Before taking either step, make sure to save all relevant evidence in case the content is later deleted. This data can help digital investigators piece together the timeline of the abuse and support efforts to hold the perpetrator accountable.
Save as much evidence as possible before submitting a report. This includes any harmful messages, comments, or posts, as well as the cyberbully’s account information and timestamps of the abusive interactions. By preserving this evidence, you can strengthen your report to Instagram and assist law enforcement investigations if the harassment escalates into a criminal matter.
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.
