Cyber Bullying: Cyber Safe Advice

Cyber bullying is any form of bullying which takes place online. This can be on any smart device, games console or social media app. 

56% of young people have seen others be bullied online; while 42% say they don’t feel safe when online.

You can download this poster here. 

Types of cyber bullying:

Harassment
Sending offensive, rude or insulting messages and being abusive.
Nasty or humiliating comments on posts, photos and in chat rooms.
Being explicitly offensive on gaming sites.

Denigration
When someone sends fake information about another person.
Sharing photos of someone ridicule them, spread fake rumours and gossip about them.
People alter photos of others and post them online as a form of bullying.

Flaming 
When someone purposely uses extreme and offensive language; getting into online arguments and fights.
They do this to cause reactions and enjoy the fact it causes someone to get distressed.

Impersonation 
Bullying can extend to hacking into someone’s social media account or emails, and using the person's online identity to send or post vicious or embarrassing material to others.
Creating fake profiles on social media are common place and, in some cases, can be difficult to be deleted quickly.

Outing and Trickery
Sharing personal information about someone or tricking them into revealing secrets and forwarding it to others. They may also do this with private images and videos.

Cyber Stalking 
Repeatedly sending messages, including threats of harm, harassment, intimidation, or engaging in other online activities that make a person afraid for his or her safety.
Theses actions may be illegal, depending on their nature. 

Exclusion 
Leaving someone out of a group such as group chats. This is also a form of social bullying and a very common.
Some may set up chats & pages to spread rumours and post nasty comments about an individual - then invite them to see all the messages others have shared about them. 

TOP TIPS

• Do not respond to abusive messages.
• Screenshot anything that is sent to you (this can be used as evidence to prove the bullying is taking place).
• Mute accounts, so you can no longer see them - but they aren't aware that you aren't being notified of the messages. Block & Report the accounts if you are unable to mute, and/or the bullying continues.
• Tell someone - take the screenshots to somebody you trust (sibling, parent, carer, teacher, support worker). This way something can be done about the offending. 

SUPPORT

• Get help and advice from BullyingUK.
• NSPCC can be contacted for support if you, or someone you know, is being bullied.
• You&Co is Victim Support's youth programme, which helps young people cope with the impact & effects of crime. You do not have to report the crime to the police to get support from the team.

PARENTS

If you are a parent, and would like further advice on e-safety, Internet Matters has a variety of leaflets and advice which are all tailored for the age of your children. 

The mother of Felix Alexander, who took his own life as a result of cyber bullying, offers her advice to parents and young people on what to do if anything happens online: