Staying safe online
Types of online bullying can include:
- Mean messages direct or indirect
- Comments in posts which can be upsetting
- Memes to humiliate others
- Sharing of images without consent
- Exclusion from games/groups
- Impersonation
Most bullying takes place face to face, but can also take place online – either on social media platforms, texts or text apps, or through gaming chat boxes. Regardless of where the bullying is happening, there are some things you can do to help you to stay safe when you’re online.
Be aware of what you post and share online, and treat people with respect. Think about the impact your comments might have on them and how it might make them feel. It can be easy to get caught up in online gossip or ‘banter’, but think about what you’re saying and what others will feel if they read mean or disrespectful comments.
Be careful about the information you share online
Never give away personal details, such as your address, phone number and email address – and don’t share anyone else’s private information either. Keep your passwords safe and, while it might be appropriate to share them with your parents/carers, don’t share them with others, including friends and people you trust. Sharing passwords allows others to access your accounts, where they can change information or post messages in your name.
You should also make sure that your social media settings are set to private, so that only people you know and trust can see your posts. Most of these things are set up with public profiles, so be sure to check your settings and change them to protect yourself.
Everything can be traced – including deleted posts
Even if you give a fake email account and information, you will have a unique IP address from your service provider, which can be traced. Everything that’s posted online can be viewed, copied and shared, and you never know who could read your posts. This goes for future potential employers and staff in colleges or universities you might be interested in applying to in the future.
If you do experience mean behaviour online you could ignore it, or turn off your device. Ignoring the behaviour might be enough for the behaviour to stop, but if it continues you could report, block the person, or account. Taking a screenshot may also help as evidence of the behaviour when sharing your concerns with a trusted person. Explore and use the safety tools available on your devices and apps.
Look at our Where to get help page for more information about online safety.
