What is Cyberbullying: Tips and Warning Signs

Every time kids and teens go online, there is a risk for cyberbullying. Discover the best tips for preventing, reducing, and reporting cyberbullying. Keep reading to learn about the warning signs of cyberbullying, including behavior changes, physical symptoms, social media addictions, and more. What is Cyberbullying? Effects of Cyberbullying Warning Signs of Cyberbullying How to Prevent Cyberbullying Social Media Addiction & Cyberbullying Digital Citizenship Education

Cierra - Cybersecurity Expert

Nov 1, 2025 0 19

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What is Cyberbullying: Tips and Warning Signs

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. It is a repeated behaviour aimed at scaring, angering, or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:

spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone on social media
sending hurtful, abusive, or threatening messages, images, or videos via messaging platforms
impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf or through fake accounts
engaging in sexual harassment or bullying using generative AI tools.

Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint – a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.

Effects of Cyberbullying

When bullying happens online, it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways:

Mentally – feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even afraid or angry
Emotionally – feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love
Physically – tired (loss of sleep), or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches

The feeling of being laughed at or harassed by others can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead to people taking their own lives.

Targets of bullying are at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Children and teens who bully are also at a higher risk for misusing substances, having mental and behavioral problems, and experiencing violence.

Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome, and people can regain their confidence and health.

Warning Signs of Cyberbullying

A child may not feel comfortable telling a trusted adult about online bullying. Parents and teachers need to learn the warning signs of cyberbullying, including:

Changes in sleeping or eating habits
Changes in mood or social interactions
Symptoms of stress, such as headaches or stomachaches
Difficulty paying attention in school
Suddenly losing interest in hobbies or activities they once enjoyed

When kids start using the internet, they might not share everything with their parents or teachers. Children need to learn how to be responsible online users.

How to Prevent Cyberbullying

Kids can take action against cyberbullying with the following tips:

Keep social media accounts private.
Turn off location sharing.
Report online bullying to the social media platform.
Report online bullying to a trusted adult.
Don't share personal information online, including: Phone number, email, address, or school.
Don't respond to bullying messages.
Don't participate in cyberbullying by commenting or sharing incidents.

Most states have anti-bullying laws. This means that, in some cases, cyberbullying could be considered criminal harassment.

Ongoing cyberbullying should be reported to the police. It is important to save or screenshot evidence of online harassment to share with the police.

Social Media Addiction & Cyberbullying

A person is more likely to participate in cyberbullying if they have a social media addiction. Social media addiction does not have a clinical diagnosis.

Social media apps are designed to be addictive. App designers take advantage of how the human brain works to keep users on the app. Scrolling apps, refreshing feeds, and getting likes on posts give the brain a chemical reward called dopamine that makes you feel pleasure. That is also how substance use affects the brain.

Time online can start to replace responsibilities, relationships, and even basic needs like eating and sleeping. Over half of teen social media users say it would be hard to give up social media.

If you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult – someone you feel safe talking to – is one of the most important first steps you can take.

Talking to parents isn’t easy for everyone. But there are things you can do to help the conversation. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention. Explain how serious the problem is for you. Remember, they might not be as familiar with technology as you are, so you might need to help them understand what’s happening.

They might not have instant answers for you, but they are likely to want to help, and together you can find a solution. Two heads are always better than one! If you are still unsure about what to do, consider reaching out to other trusted people. There are often more people who care about you and are willing to help than you might think!