Emails, mobile phones, the internet and social media – online technology is a part of every teenager’s life. Unfortunately around 20 percent of young Australians aged between 8 to 17 report experiencing cyberbullying†. Here are some tips on the signs to look out for and what you can do if you think your teen is being cyberbullied.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is the use of technology to bully an individual or group with the intent to cause harm – social, psychological or, in extreme cases, physical.

Cyberbullying can be abusive texts or emails, hurtful messages, images or videos. Other forms of cyberbullying include excluding others online, imitating others online or nasty online gossip.

What to look out for

If your teen is experiencing cyberbullying, you may notice they don’t want to go online or use their mobile. They may get upset when they get a text or an email. You may notice changes in their school work and friends. They may also be withdrawn or appear lonely, sad or angry or not sleep well. They may try to avoid going to places like school.

What you can do

If you think your teen is being cyberbullied, try not to overreact—reassure them that you won’t block their access to the internet. There are some really useful resources for parents on the eSafety website, and here’s a few more things you can do:

• Help them stay connected to supportive family and friends both online and offline.
• Advise them not to reply to any messages from a bully. Often if bullies don’t receive a response they will give up.
• Help them to collect evidence of the cyberbullying material.
• Report the cyberbullying material to the website administrator or social media service. If the site or app does not remove the content within 48 hours, report it to the eSafety Commissioner —they will work with the service to get the content removed.
• Encourage them to ‘block’ the bully.
• Talk to your teenager’s school if another student is involved.

If your teenager doesn’t feel comfortable talking to you or someone they know, encourage them to contact Kids Helpline, for free and confidential online and phone counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

†Katz, I., Keeley, M., Spears, B., Taddeo, C., Swirski, T., & Bates, S (2014). Research on youth exposure to, and management of, cyberbullying incidents in Australia: Synthesis report (SPRC Report 16/2014). Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia.