Plain language: online bullying

We’ve worked with Spectrum Care to create this plain language online bullying guide. It offers advice for people with an intellectual disability, and those who support them. Read our other plain language guides here.

Plain language online bullying guide

Bullying is when someone says or does something unkind or unsafe to someone else.

When bullying happens on a device, like a computer or mobile phone, this is often called cyberbullying or online bullying.

Someone is bullying you online if they do one or more of the following.

• Call you names.
• Say rude, nasty or mean things about you to other people.
• Spread rumours or lies about you to other people.
• Make you feel unsafe.
• Make you feel embarrassed.
• Keep contacting you when you don’t want them to.
• Share pictures or videos of you that you don’t like.
• Pretend to be you to make you look bad.

Online bullying is never okay

Get help if it happens to you.

• Talk to someone you trust, like staff at a centre or group you attend, your family or a friend.
• Save messages and images. Take a screen shot, or ask someone else to do it for you.
• Report it to the social media app or website where it happened. You can ask someone else to help if you don’t know how.
• Ask for help to block any phone numbers that are being used to send you nasty messages.
• Contact Netsafe for advice.

Plain language: Online bullying (PDF, 2.7MB)

Read our general online bullying guide

Report it

Netsafe offers a free service for people who are upset or hurt by something that happens online. We can explain how the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) may apply to you. This law deals with image based abuse, incitement to suicide and extremely offensive, abusive or harassing content.

• Call us toll-free on 0508 638 723
• Text ‘Netsafe’ to 4282
• Email [email protected] for online safety help
• Report it online

What happens when you contact Netsafe

Netsafe will:

• ask you questions to understand what has been happening to you. We can check if the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) may apply to you. This law deals with image based abuse (like revenge porn), incitement to suicide and extremely offensive, abusive or harassing content
• talk about ways to stop the abuse
• suggest other people you can talk to who may be able to help

We will continue to add to our plain language pages, so please get in touch if there is an area you think we should cover. Email your suggestions to [email protected]

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