Cyber bullying

Cyber bullying is a criminal offence where the bully can be charged and placed before the court to explain their actions. It involves causing distress and deliberate harm to the victim. This is a very serious criminal offence that may be punishable by a term of imprisonment.

How does this work?

The victim is identified online and is the target of a campaign to inflict harm. This may be humiliation, aggression, threats to their safety or spreading false rumours. Attacks are through social media, email or any other forum. In some instances, the attacker has accessed the victim’s computer and stolen personal information.

Attacks through social media are a simple and effective way of bullying an individual. This may be because of their personal beliefs, a perceived slight or if the attacker feels threatened by the victim for an unknown reason. The attacker usually hides behind an anonymous profile and relies on the perceived anonymity of the internet to ensure they are not identified. In some cases, other people unrelated to the attacker or victim join in because they support the view of the attacker, or they are looking for a form of entertainment at someone else’s expense. 

How do I protect myself?

• Ensure you secure your account on social media through settings to restrict who can access your information and view certain details such as friends lists, personal information etc.
• Ensure your friends, family or other trusted persons are aware of the cyber bullying.
• Reduce the amount of information about yourself online.
• Be aware cyberbullies target people online because their stated views are different to their own. Think carefully about what you post online.
• Close your social media account if you are the target of cyberbullying. You do not have to monitor the abuse being directed at you.
• Do not respond to the bullying.
• Unfriend the cyberbully. You may also close the account for a specific time where you do not see the abuse or threats.
• Ask a friend or family member to monitor the account or sites where the abuse/bullying is occurring.
• Change email or other accounts If required.
• Report your complaint to police especially if you have concerns for your safety.
• On social media, be very restrictive who you allow as friends.

More advice from eSafety

Reporting cyber bullying

You can report online harm through eSafety or the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

Due to the way most social media organisations operate, once data is deleted by users it is lost forever. To assist with investigations:

• Obtain details of those making the posts such as ID numbers, screen names etc
• Without communicating with the bully, obtain screen shots of all posts
• Copy links and images posted or sent
• Retain originals of emails received by the bully.