Cyber and text bullying
What to do if you're being bullied by text.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can involve unwanted text messages, phone video recordings or web posts being used to threaten, abuse or harm someone. It’s like physical or verbal bullying, just using technology.
Cyberbullying, like all bullying, is difficult on the victim. It can be hard to prove and difficult to get the courage to report it.
If you are experiencing this form of bullying it’s vital you don’t suffer in silence. Also, if you have witnessed cyberbullying it’s important that you take action and address the problem.
Read the Office for Internet Safety's Guide to cyberbullying here, which includes information on when and how to contact service providers if you are being cyberbullied.
Beat cyberbullying:
- Don’t reply to the messages.
- Save the evidence (photo/email/ video/ web post, etc) as proof.
- Tell a trusted adult such as a close relative, a family friend, a teacher, health professional or a youth worker.
- Contact a free confidential support service such as Samaritans - telephone 1850 609090. See the directory of help services here: http://www.spunout.ie/help
- Report the bullying to the police or Gardaí.
- Report the bullying to the technology providers such as the mobile phone company, web host or website owner. Find out how to report bullying or problems here.
- Check out this information on staying safe online.
Text bullying
Texting is cheap, easy and can be great for flirting or avoiding a long conversation that sucks up credit. Unfortunately it can also be used to harass, bully and frighten people. Text bullying or harassment can be texts that frighten, insult, threaten you or make you feel uncomfortable. Email, websites like MySpace and Bebo and phone calls can be used to harass in the same way.
It is illegal to bully or harass someone by text, phone, Internet or email and if the harassment is getting out of hand you should report it to the police or Gardaí.
If you’re being bullied by texts:
- Don't stay quiet about the bullying. Tell a friend, your parents, a teacher or someone who will be able to help you and give you support.
- Don’t reply to the messages. If there’s no answer hopefully they will get bored and stop harassing you.
- Don’t delete the messages, you can use them as evidence for reporting the crime.
- Report the bullying to the police or Gardaí and your phone company. They are aware of the problem and can give you a new phone number or caution the person harassing you.
