More than half of young Australians experience cyberbullying

A nationwide survey by Headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, found 53% of 12 to 25-year-olds had experienced bullying in a digital space. The most at risk were people of school age and young women aged 15 to 17.

Source: Supplied

How to recognise cyberbullying

Some of the signs that may indicate your child is being cyberbullied include:

• Being secretive about their online activities
• Avoiding social outings
• Deleting their social media or email accounts
• Noticeable changes in their friendship groups
• Appearing upset after using their mobile, tablet or computer
• A decline in grades or avoiding school

What to do if your child is being cyberbullied

If you find it’s happening to a young person in your care, there are four simple steps that can help minimise the harm:

1. Report the cyberbullying to the social media service where it is occurring.
2. Collect evidence of the cyberbullying material.
3. If the material is not removed within 48 hours, make a report to eSafety.
4. Block the offending user.

Have a conversation with your child about what to do if cyberbullying happens to them or a friend. Head to eSafety Parents at esafety.gov.au to help you do just that.

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