Cyberbullying: a parent’s response guide

What cyberbullying looks like now

Less public, more private-group. Screenshots forwarded into group chats. Exclusion from group chats. Impersonation accounts. Public “receipts” threads. Rumors via Snapchat Stories that disappear — but screenshots don’t.

Preserve evidence before anything else

1. Screenshot everything. Usernames, full messages, timestamps.
2. Save to a folder. Back up.
3. Do not delete the conversation.

Response ladder

Step 1: report on the platform

Every platform has a bullying report flow. Use it. Takedowns are slow but sometimes work.

Step 2: tell the school

Even if the bullying happens off school grounds, most schools have “off-campus conduct” policies when peers are involved. Schools can intervene socially in ways parents can’t. Bring the screenshots.

Step 3: block + private account

Once reported, move to private accounts, tighter DM settings, restricted follower list.

Step 4: escalate

Threats of violence, stalking, sharing of sexual images, or impersonation may be crimes. File a police report. For image-based abuse, use Take It Down.

Supporting your kid

• Believe them first. The shame of not being believed is often worse than the bullying.
• Don’t make it about whether they “started it.”
• Loop in a counselor. Professional support helps.
• Monitor for signs of depression or self-harm ideation.

What not to do

• Don’t contact the bully’s parents directly in the first 48 hours — it often backfires.
• Don’t confiscate the phone as your response. It punishes the victim.
• Don’t post about it publicly. Pulls in strangers, escalates the situation.