Screens, phones and online life

Cyberbullying: what parents should do

How to respond if your child is being bullied online — or is involved in bullying others — calmly and in the right order.

Updated 3 min read By the AI Tutor Vault team, written with the help of an AI assistant

On this page
  1. Signs your child may be cyberbullied
  2. Step 1: listen and reassure
  3. Step 2: don’t respond to the bully
  4. Step 3: save the evidence
  5. Step 4: block and report
  6. Step 5: involve the school
  7. Step 6: support your child
  8. If your child is the one bullying
  9. Prevent it where you can
  10. When school feels hard because of it
  11. Frequently asked questions
  12. Next steps

Please note: this guide is general information for parents, not medical, psychological or other professional advice, and it can’t take your child’s individual situation into account. If you’re worried about your child’s health, wellbeing or safety, speak to their school or a qualified professional such as your family doctor. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number.

If your child is being bullied online, the first response matters most: stay calm, listen, and reassure them they did the right thing by telling you. Then save evidence, block and report, and involve the school if classmates are involved. Here’s the step-by-step — and what to do if your child is the one doing the bullying.

Signs your child may be cyberbullied

  • Upset, anxious or withdrawn after using their phone or computer.
  • Suddenly avoiding devices — or being unable to put them down.
  • Reluctance to go to school or see friends.
  • Secretive about online activity.
  • Changes in sleep, appetite or mood.

Step 1: listen and reassure

  • Stay calm. Your reaction decides whether they keep telling you things.
  • Say: “Thank you for telling me. This isn’t your fault. We’ll sort it out together.”
  • Don’t take their phone away as a response — many children hide bullying because they fear exactly that.

Step 2: don’t respond to the bully

Replying or retaliating usually makes things worse. Help your child not to engage.

Step 3: save the evidence

Take screenshots of messages, posts and profiles, with dates and usernames visible. Keep them somewhere safe before anything is deleted.

Step 4: block and report

Block the accounts involved and use the platform’s reporting tools. Most services have rules against harassment and can remove content or accounts.

Step 5: involve the school

If other pupils are involved, contact the school with your evidence. Many schools have anti-bullying policies that cover online behaviour. Ask what they will do and when you’ll hear back.

Step 6: support your child

  • Check in regularly, not just once.
  • Help them spend time with supportive friends and activities they enjoy.
  • Watch for lasting changes in mood or sleep, and talk to your family doctor if you’re concerned.

If your child is the one bullying

  1. Stay calm and find out what happened.
  2. Help them understand the impact on the other person.
  3. Agree a way to put it right — deleting content, apologising, accepting consequences.
  4. Look for the reason behind it: peer pressure, their own unhappiness, retaliation.
  5. Review online rules together, and involve the school if needed.

Prevent it where you can

  • Private accounts and limited contact settings.
  • Regular, relaxed conversations about life online.
  • A family rule: “If you see bullying, tell an adult.”

See how to keep kids safe online.

When school feels hard because of it

Bullying can make school feel unbearable. If your child doesn’t want to go, see when your child hates school and work closely with the school.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if my child is being cyberbullied?

Listen calmly, reassure them, don’t respond to the bully, save evidence, block and report, involve the school if classmates are involved, and keep supporting your child.

Should I take my child’s phone away if they’re cyberbullied?

Usually no — it can feel like a punishment and make children less likely to tell you next time. Adjust settings and block instead.

When should I contact the police about cyberbullying?

If there are threats of violence, sexual images involving a child, stalking, or other possibly criminal behaviour, contact the police.

Can the school do anything about online bullying?

Often yes, especially when pupils are involved. Many schools’ anti-bullying policies include online behaviour.

Next steps

If it’s happening now, start with steps 1–4 today. If not, have a calm conversation this week about what your child would do if they saw or experienced bullying online.

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