Privacy, Devices & Citizenship · lesson 10 of 17 · 15 min
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology — phones, social media, games, or messaging apps — to repeatedly hurt, embarrass, threaten, or exclude another person on purpose. The word “repeatedly” is important: one mean comment might be rude, but cyberbullying is a pattern of harmful behavior that keeps happening.
Unlike bullying in person, cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can reach a large audience very quickly. It can feel impossible to escape because it follows you home through your devices. A hurtful post can be seen by hundreds of people in minutes.
Cyberbullying is never the victim’s fault. Anyone who experiences it deserves support and help — and anyone who witnesses it has a responsibility to act.
Examples of cyberbullying: Sending mean or threatening messages, spreading rumors online, sharing embarrassing photos without permission, leaving someone out of online groups on purpose, pretending to be someone else to trick or hurt them, or posting hurtful comments on someone’s posts.
How cyberbullying is different from in-person bullying
24/7 — no escape Cyberbullying can happen at any time, even at home. There is no safe space to retreat to. Large audience A hurtful post can be seen by hundreds or thousands of people — far more than in-person bullying. Permanent record Screenshots and shares mean hurtful content can last forever, even after the original is deleted. Anonymity Bullies can hide behind fake accounts, making it harder to identify who is responsible. Crosses boundaries Cyberbullying can happen across schools, cities, and even countries. No visible reaction Bullies online cannot see the hurt they cause, which can make them bolder than in person.
What to do about cyberbullying
If you are being cyberbullied, or you see someone else being cyberbullied:
- Do not respond. Responding often makes it worse and gives the bully the reaction they want. Step away from the screen.
- Save the evidence. Take screenshots of the messages or posts before they are deleted.
- Tell a trusted adult. Show them the evidence and ask for help. You do not have to handle this alone.
- Block the person. Most platforms let you block users who are being unkind — this stops them from contacting you.
- Report it. Use the platform’s report button to flag the behavior. Platforms take cyberbullying seriously.
Key words to remember
- Cyberbullying
- Evidence
- Block
- Report
- Bystander effect
Match each cyberbullying concept to its description
Cyberbullying — quiz
What is cyberbullying?
- Playing competitive games online
- Using technology to repeatedly hurt, embarrass, or threaten someone
- Sending too many messages to a friend
- Posting photos of yourself online
Answer: Using technology to repeatedly hurt, embarrass, or threaten someone
Cyberbullying is deliberate, repeated harmful behavior using technology.
Someone is sending you mean messages online. What is the best first step?
- Send mean messages back
- Share the messages with everyone
- Do not respond, save the evidence, and tell a trusted adult
- Delete your account immediately
Answer: Do not respond, save the evidence, and tell a trusted adult
Not responding, saving evidence, and telling a trusted adult are the right steps.
Cyberbullying is less serious than in-person bullying because it happens online.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Cyberbullying can be just as harmful — or more so — because it can happen constantly and reach many people.
Why is cyberbullying harder to escape than in-person bullying?
- It is not harder to escape
- It can happen 24/7 through your devices, even at home
- It only happens at school
- It only affects adults
Answer: It can happen 24/7 through your devices, even at home
Cyberbullying follows you home through your devices — there is no safe space to retreat to.
What should you do before reporting cyberbullying?
- Delete all the messages
- Take screenshots to save the evidence
- Tell the bully to stop
- Post about it publicly
Answer: Take screenshots to save the evidence
Saving evidence (screenshots) before reporting helps adults and platforms understand what happened.
Cyberbullying is always the victim’s fault.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Cyberbullying is never the victim’s fault. Anyone experiencing it deserves support and help.
What does blocking someone on a platform do?
- Deletes their account
- Stops them from contacting you or seeing your profile
- Reports them to the police
- Sends them a warning message
Answer: Stops them from contacting you or seeing your profile
Blocking prevents a specific person from contacting you — it is a useful tool against cyberbullying.
Why can cyberbullying reach a larger audience than in-person bullying?
- It cannot — in-person bullying reaches more people
- A hurtful post can be seen by hundreds of people in minutes
- Only the bully and victim can see it
- It only reaches people in the same school
Answer: A hurtful post can be seen by hundreds of people in minutes
Online content spreads quickly — a hurtful post can reach far more people than in-person bullying.
You should respond to a cyberbully to defend yourself.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Responding often makes things worse. Step away, save evidence, and tell a trusted adult instead.
Who should you tell if you are being cyberbullied?
- No one — handle it yourself
- A trusted adult who can help you
- The bully’s friends
- Post about it publicly to get support
Answer: A trusted adult who can help you
A trusted adult — parent, teacher, or school counselor — can help you handle cyberbullying safely.
Try it: What would you do? Cyberbullying
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