Signs of Cyberbullying (& What To Do)

Signs of Cyberbullying (& What To Do) As technology continues to advance, so do the opportunities for people to connect and communicate. Social media, messaging apps, and online forums can be platforms for positivity and community building. Unfortunately, they also provide a fertile ground for cyberbullying. Recognizing the signs of cyberbullying is the first step in addressing the issue and helping the victim.

The signs of cyberbullying can be hard to spot. But to keep your children safe, you need to get to know them. Here’s what to look for

How Does Cyberbullying Happen?

Cyberbullying is any form of bullying that takes place over digital mediums, such as text messages, email, social media, or online games. Bullies seek to torment, intimidate, and humiliate their victims by sending or sharing harmful content.

The scary truth is that cyberbullying has hit record high numbers in recent years — with 79% of children on YouTube, 69% of kids on Snapchat, and 64% of kids on TikTok likely to be cyberbullied [*].

Here are a few tactics that cyberbullies may use:

• Fake profiles: Perpetrators use fake profiles, pretending to be a friend. As the bully establishes trust, the child may share personal information — which the bully then uses to shame and harass the victim.
• Sockpuppets: Cyberbullies use a victim’s photos and information to create a false identity profile. The bullies then post mean content and images to ruin their victim’s online reputation.
• Doxing: Cyberbullies search for a victim’s personally identifiable information (PII) and publish it online. For example, the bullies might share their victim’s address and social media links, encouraging others to send harmful content or visit the victim’s home.
• Encouraging self-harm. Cyberbullies can harass people on social media and gaming platforms, encouraging victims to harm themselves or worse.
• Leaking sensitive photos or messages. Young couples might engage in “sexting” or share sensitive photos through apps like Snapchat. Cyberbullies may share these photos and messages online, leading to widespread harassment of the victims.
• Spreading lies. Vulnerable targets are often blamed for things they didn’t do at school. Bullies might knowingly accuse them of shameful deeds and persuade others to turn against the victim.
• Gamer bullying. In gaming, “griefing” refers to players sabotaging another player’s gameplay. For example, cyberbullies might steal virtual belongings or lead a campaign of harassment during in-game chats.

Quite often, cyberbullies use anonymous profiles, which makes them harder to track, and is more distressing for victims as the bullying campaign continues.

10 Signs That May Indicate Your Child Is Being Cyberbullied

1. Using their device significantly more
2. Acting overly emotional after using a device
3. Deleting their social media accounts
4. Not wanting to attend social events
5. Showing drastic changes in their mood
6. Complaining to get out of going to school
7. Becoming nervous when receiving a text
8. Having difficulty sleeping
9. Talking about self-harm
10. Losing interest in hobbies

Spotting the warning signs of cyberbullying can be difficult. Children often hide their devices or avoid talking about what they’re going through out of fear that you’ll intervene (and worsen the bullying).

Parents need to be aware of these warning signs indicating that their children might be victims of cyberbullying: