What is cyber bullying?

Cyber bullying is also known as online bullying and is when someone faces bullying behaviour on social media, messaging apps, online games and other places online. Face-to-face bullying usually stops at the school gates, but cyber bullying can continue when you are at home, so it can feel hard to escape from. But there are ways for you to get help if you are facing bullying online.

We've spoken to some sixth form students who have all experienced cyber bullying at school. They have given us some tips about what you can do to help stop it.

What is cyber bullying?

Olivia told us "Cyber bullying happens online… it also happens on games." Whereas Sulayman says "I think group chats are the biggest breeding ground for cyber bullying." Cyber bullying, which is also known as online bullying, takes places using technology and electronic devices, such as laptops, smartphones, computers, tablets, or gaming consoles. It most often takes places over the internet, but can also be nasty text messages.

You can be bullied both online and offline at the same time, and you will sometimes know the person who is bullying you online. You can also face harassment from people you've never met in real life but know from online communities, games or social media. It can also be anonymous.

Sam says, "There's no stop to it. It could be the person that's bullying you is sitting two rows in front of you in class and is messaging you."

Why do people cyber bully?

There are many reasons why someone might bully others online, and the reasons are different from one person to the next. One form of cyber bullying you may know of is called 'trolling'. Dr Mark Griffiths, Professor of Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University told us “Most people troll others for either revenge, for attention seeking, for boredom, and for personal amusement.” Trolling is generally about provoking a reaction.

If you have trolled someone either on purpose, in the heat of the moment or without realising, then Dr Griffiths recommends you “apologise in writing as soon as possible. A written apology can go a long way.”

If you are being trolled online then:

• Don’t respond
• Block the trolls’ accounts
• Don’t post online that you’re being targeted
• Take some time out from social media
• If the abuse you receive makes you feel at threat or is otherwise unlawful – report it to the social media platform and the police.

How to stop cyber bullies

Jack says "I would tell someone who is being cyber bullied to feel comfortable talking to people." Martha Evans from the Anti-Bullying Alliance says, "Tell someone what's happening – talk to an adult you trust like a parent or teacher. You are not alone!" Feranmi told us, "It's okay to get help, and it's okay to tell people that this is what you're going through. You shouldn't have to be fighting alone."

Most social media sites have methods of blocking or muting others. Make sure you familiarise yourself with these tools. Martha Evans says "If you witness bullying online, don’t just scroll past. Support the person being targeted – send them a kind message, encourage them to speak up, or report the bullying yourself."

Remember, the problem is with the bully, not you. What they say does not define you. Don’t let their words shape your self-worth. You can find more tips to help stop online bullying here.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.