What to Do if You or Someone You Know is Cyber Bullied
It’s important to stop cyber bullying as quickly as possible.
If it happens to you, here are some great ways to handle it:
If it happens to you, here are some great ways to handle it:
- Don’t answer. If you are angry and answer, you might say mean things back. The cyber bully might just want to upset you. Don’t let them know that their plan has worked.
- Block the bully. If you get mean messages on a social networking site, take the person off your friend list. You can also report the bullying to the website.
- Save or print the messages. This will be proof you can show to an adult. If you don’t save the evidence, or if you delete the communication with the bully, it might be hard to prove that it happened.
- Talk with a friend. When someone makes you feel bad, talking about it with a close friend can help.
- Tell a trusted adult. Talk with a parent, teacher, coach, social worker, principal, or another adult you trust. They can help you come up with a plan to deal with the cyber bullying.
Even though talking to a close friend can help you feel better, you should also tell an adult about the bullying. Adults often have the power to influence the situation, and can give great advice about how to handle it.
Sometimes the person being cyber bullied is afraid to tell an adult. Don’t be afraid. No one deserves to be bullied. Telling an adult will help stop the cyber bullying. It will also help to protect others from being cyber bullied.
If you see or know about someone else being cyber bullied, it’s important that you help to stop the bullying. They might not know what to do, or might be afraid of doing something. You can make a big difference.
It is also important to empathize with the target. To empathize is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand their feelings. Tell them you imagine they must feel very hurt, and that they’re not alone. Remind them to save or print the messages and to tell a trusted adult.
If they are too scared or embarrassed, you might need to be the one to tell an adult. Remember, it’s not tattling. It’s standing up for another person.
Sometimes the person being cyber bullied is afraid to tell an adult. Don’t be afraid. No one deserves to be bullied. Telling an adult will help stop the cyber bullying. It will also help to protect others from being cyber bullied.
If you see or know about someone else being cyber bullied, it’s important that you help to stop the bullying. They might not know what to do, or might be afraid of doing something. You can make a big difference.
It is also important to empathize with the target. To empathize is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand their feelings. Tell them you imagine they must feel very hurt, and that they’re not alone. Remind them to save or print the messages and to tell a trusted adult.
If they are too scared or embarrassed, you might need to be the one to tell an adult. Remember, it’s not tattling. It’s standing up for another person.
You log onto a social networking site that you and your friends use to connect and share things with each other. You notice that a few kids from school have posted some cruel things about another student who acts a little different than other kids. You’re not really friends with this kid, but it catches your attention that people are using the site to make fun of how the student acts and dresses.
What would you do?
What would you do?
Next you will learn about the consequences of cyber bullying.
Kick Cyber Bullying was created by Liat Rothfeld. Last modified May 2016.
Portions of the information on this site were taken or modified, with permission, from Common Sense Media.
Portions of the information on this site were taken or modified, with permission, from Common Sense Media.