Common types of cyberbullying
- Harassment: Sending offensive or threatening messages.
- Cyberstalking: Repeatedly intimidating or threatening someone.
- Denigration: Spreading false or defamatory content.
- Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else maliciously.
- Exclusion: Deliberately excluding someone from online communities.
- Doxing: Sharing personal information, photos, or videos without consent.
Other types of cyberbullying
- Online shaming: Publicly humiliating someone.
- Trolling: Provoking reactions for amusement.
- Catfishing: Creating fake online personas
- Fakes and deep fakes: Distributing AI-generated or photoshopped images.
For more information on bullying, you can read about bullying and harassment at work.
Cyberbullying platforms
When people think about cyberbullying, they may immediately think of social media. But there are many places where cyberbullying can occur, including:
- Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky.
- Email: Unsolicited messages to someone’s inbox.
- Text messaging apps: WhatsApp, Snapchat.
- Online forums: Reddit, discord, Mastodon? 4chan
- Gaming platforms: PSN, Xbox, Twitch and MMORPG.
- Gaming communities: Multiplayer games like Fortnite and Roblox.
Cyberbullying data and statistics
More than three-quarters of students who were bullied online were also bullied offline.
Bullying is the fourth-most common reason young people seek help from children’s support services.
According to a survey by The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER):
- 1 in 6 students are bullied at school.
- 1 in 10 students have been deliberately “left out” or had “nasty rumours” spread about them.
- Country students are bullied more regularly than city students.
- Government school students are bullied more than Catholic and independent school students.
The impact of cyberbullying on mental health
Cyberbullying can leave people feeling alone, worthless, sad, and angry. It can cause people to withdraw socially. It can lower a person’s self-esteem and lead to devastating consequences.
People who are bullied may be at greater risk of experiencing anxiety, depression and thoughts about suicide.
Signs of cyberbullying
SubIf you’re worried that someone you know is being cyberbullied, here are some signs to look out for. They may:
- not want to go to school, work, or social activities
- not performing as well at school or work
- not have many friends or stop hanging out with friends
- Not spending time doing activities they used to do
- be more sad, sensitive, or anxious than usual
- be more quiet or secretive than usual
- experience angry outbursts
- complain about headaches, stomach aches, or other physical problems
- have trouble sleeping
Cyberbullying prevention
Nobody deserves to be cyberbullied. That’s why several groups and organisations around the world are trialing various programs to tackle it, like banning smartphones at schools.
Cyberbullying governance
In Australia, the federal government is rolling out an Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act. This legislation, introduced in 2024, bans Australians under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
Other global authorities are also exploring ways to address the negative impacts of social media on mental health. Some of these are through:
Other global authorities are also exploring ways to address the negative impacts of social media on mental health. Some of these are through:
- the development of anti-cyberbullying laws
- ongoing research and monitoring
- implementing parental controls and age restrictions
- increasing access to education so that parents are better informed
- putting pressure on social media companies to take more responsibility.
At Beyond Blue, it’s our view that governments should continue to invest in high-quality, evidence-based social media literacy resources that are tailored to younger users. We also believe that social media companies must be held responsible for their users’ safety.
Anti-cyberbullying strategies at school
To ensure the mental health and wellbeing of students, schools are:
- developing specific anti-bullying policies
- communicating anti-bullying messages regularly
- applying a no-tolerance approach to bullying and aggression
- teaching social and emotional learning skills with a focus on resilience
- promoting healthy and positive relationships across the whole community
- fostering a caring, respectful, and fair environment where children feel safereporting their concerns to teachers.
How to start a conversation about cyberbullying
If someone you care about is being bullied, it can be hard to chat with them about it. They might try to hide what’s happening or feel ashamed and afraid. Often, they just want the bullying to stop without confronting the issue or drawing attention to it.
If you’re unsure how to start a conversation with someone about cyberbullying, or they get angry and defensive, try to stay calm. Step back and think about how you could approach the topic differently next time in the hope of getting a better response.
If you’re unsure how to start a conversation with someone about cyberbullying, or they get angry and defensive, try to stay calm. Step back and think about how you could approach the topic differently next time in the hope of getting a better response.
How parents can talk to their child about cyberbullying
Talking to your child about cyberbullying can be confronting or uncomfortable.
As a first step, it can help to model positive, respectful and inclusive behaviour. This encourages them to act in these ways. It also helps them feel safe speaking up when something is wrong.
If you suspect cyberbullying is taking place, here are some things you can do.
As a first step, it can help to model positive, respectful and inclusive behaviour. This encourages them to act in these ways. It also helps them feel safe speaking up when something is wrong.
If you suspect cyberbullying is taking place, here are some things you can do.
If your child is being cyberbullied
- Listen and provide support. Reassure them that you’re in this together.
- Try to understand what occurred, how often, and how long it has been happening for.
- Come up with some practical steps and strategies together – like who they can talk to and what they can do when the bullying is happening.
- Report the harmful messages to the platform owner, and block the user or change the settings on your device so future messages can’t be seen. You can also report harmful content to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.
- Talk with your child’s teacher and ask for support. Keep talking with the school until your child feels safe.
- Encourage your child to talk openly about what’s happening and how this is making them feel. You could encourage them to see a health professional to talk things through.
If your child tells you about cyberbullying they’ve seen or heard about at school
- Support your child in reporting what they’ve seen or heard to school staff.
- Encourage them to show kindness to the child who is being bullied.
If your child is doing the cyberbullying
- Make sure your child knows bullying behaviour is unacceptable, and why
- Try to understand the reasons why your child has behaved in this way and look for ways to address their problems.
- Encourage them to think about the other person’s perspective, such as “how would you feel if …”
- Help your child think of alternative ways of dealing with situations and communicating their feelings.
- Consider speaking with a health professional so you can provide a safe space for your child to process their feelings and actions
To help prevent cyberbullying
- Supervise your children’s use of electronic devices.
- Talk to them about staying safe online. It can help to remind them that the internet is still real life, and you should behave the same (and expect the same behaviour from others) as you would in person
How young people can talk to adults if they are being bullied
Cyberbullying may take place online where nobody sees, but that doesn’t mean you have to face it alone. To protect your mental health and wellbeing, it’s a good idea to reach out to a trusted adult for help.
You may choose to go to a parent first. Or you may prefer talking to a teacher about being cyberbullied instead – that’s okay too. What matters is that you say something and know that support is available.
Here are some tips on having the conversation:
You may choose to go to a parent first. Or you may prefer talking to a teacher about being cyberbullied instead – that’s okay too. What matters is that you say something and know that support is available.
Here are some tips on having the conversation:
- Remember that cyberbullying is never your fault, and most people who are cyberbullied feel the same way you do about it – embarrassed, scared, overwhelmed, upset.
- Cyberbullying is hard to deal with on your own. It’s best to get support from a trusted adult.
- Start by explaining that you’d like to talk about something important. That way, they’re more likely to give you their full attention and less likely to interrupt.
- If you’re worried that you might have trouble saying what you need to say in the moment, you could write down notes in advance.
- Be honest and take your time to answer any questions they come back with. If you feel they’re not listening, it’s okay to stop, walk away, do some breathing exercises, and try again later. Or choose to speak to another trusted adult instead.
- Try to stay connected with your friends and family, rather than withdrawing by yourself.
- Seek support from a helpline or health professional if you don’t feel you have anyone to talk to about what you’re going through.
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