Series on Internet Safety for Adolescents - A Parents Guide (Part 1 - Cyberbullying)
Cyberbullying of children is when someone uses online content or communication to seriously humiliate, seriously harass, seriously intimidate of seriously threaten a child or young person under the age of 18.
It can take many forms including sending abusive messages, hurtful images or videos, nasty online gossip, excluding or humiliating others, or creating fake accounts in someone’s name to trick or humiliate them.
Online bullying can have a devastating impact on young people, whose online life is a key part of their identity and how they interact socially.
On this page:
1) I think my child is being bullied
2) What to do if your child is being cyberbullied
3) Advice for different age groups
***Targeted advice is also available for kids, young people or adults who may be experiencing online abuse.
I think my child is being bullied
Your child may not tell you if they are experiencing bullying behaviour online because of a fear it might make things worse for them or they may lose access to their devices and the internet.
Signs to watch for
being upset after using the internet or their mobile phone
changes in personality, such as becoming more withdrawn,
anxious, sad or angryappearing more lonely or distressed
unexpected changes in friendship groups
a decline in their school work
changes in their sleep patterns
avoidance of school or clubs
a decline in their physical health
becoming secretive about their online activities and
mobile phone use.
What to do if your child is being cyberbullied
Try to resist immediately taking away their device
Removing your child’s phone or computer could be really unhelpful. Cutting off their online access does not teach them about online safety or help build resilience. It could alienate them from their peers, and it also removes an essential tool for them to communicate and connect with friends.
Stay calm and open — don’t panic
You want your child to feel confident that you’re not immediately going to get upset, angry or anxious if they tell you about the situation. You want them to know they can talk to you and feel heard.
The best way to do this is make sure you have an open dialogue from the beginning. Talk to them without being judgemental or angry, and make them feel like they can come to you with anything, without fear of being punished.
Listen, think, pause
Gauge the scale of the problem. Does it exist in a peer group or is it more widespread? Is it a few remarks here and there? Or is it more serious? Empathise with your child and let them know that you understand how they feel.
How badly is it affecting your child personally? If the bullying itself is not very intense, but your child seems quite seriously affected, this could be a symptom of something larger. In this case you may need to seek help, from a school counsellor, a helpline, or an external professional.
Try not to respond immediately. Take some time to consider the best course of action. Reassure your child you are working on it and will come together again very soon to talk through some options. Let them know you are there if they feel like they need to talk in the meantime.
Act to protect your child if necessary
If your child is being threatened, or if they indicate a wish to harm themselves, you should get professional help.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately, if their physical safety is at risk.
Contact a counselling and support service like Kids Helpline.
Empower your child
Wherever possible, try to build your child’s confidence and help them make wise decisions for themselves, rather than telling them what to do.
If you feel they may be struggling to open up to you, connect them with other trusted adults or with professional support.
Collect evidence
Don't delete the posts or abusive material straight away. Instead, start by taking screenshots and collecting evidence including dates and times.
The evidence may be useful if the behaviour continues and you need a record of how long it has been going on. You may also need evidence if you want to report it.
However, if the material involves sexualised images, be aware that possessing or sharing images of people under 18 may be a crime, even if you have just taken a screenshot for evidence purposes. For information about relevant laws in Australia, visit Youth Law Australia You can also read our advice about sharing intimate images in sending nudes and sexting.
Report the online harm
Report the content to the relevant online service provider. Many social media services, games, apps and websites have a simple process to report content posted by other people. The eSafety Guide has more information about how to report issues to commonly used online services.
If the service provider does not take action after 48 hours, you or your child can report to eSafety. They will ask you to complete their online reporting form and include evidence, such as a receipt, reference or report number from the service provider.
eSafety will determine whether the abuse meets the the legal definition of what can be removed. We can then take action to get serious cyberbullying material taken down and provide advice, support and assistance.
Find out more about how to report abusive content.
Prevent further contact
Advise your child not to retaliate or respond to bullying messages, as sometimes people say hurtful things just to get a response and it could make things worse. If they have already responded, encourage them not to respond further.
Help your child to use in-app functions to ignore, mute or block the other person.
Encourage your child to check their privacy settings and restrict who can see their posts and profile page. Advice on privacy settings is available in The eSafety Guide.
Encourage your child to ask their friends whether mean content is still being posted and if so, ask them to report it.
Encourage positive connections and coping strategies
Try to keep your child engaged with interests like sports or dance that connect them with other young people outside school, or with activities that involve extended family. These things will also remind your child that they are loved and lovable.
Help your child identify tools they can use to work through the current situation, as well as help build resilience for any future challenges. Check out good habits start young for some tips.
Stay aware
Check in with your child from time-to-time about how they are feeling. Keep an eye on their eating and sleeping habits, their ability to concentrate and make decisions and their overall mood.
