Cyberbullying and online harassment
Cyberbullying and online harassment can be extremely distressing. They can be even be classed as criminal offences in some cases.

However, there are plenty of organisations you can turn to for help, including charities, social media service providers, and the police.

Here’s an overview of what online bullying is, how you can avoid it, and where you go for advice:

What is cyberbullying and online harassment?
Making comments or posts online that are deliberately abusive, offensive, threatening, or inflammatory.

Liking and sharing this kind of abuse can also count as bullying and harassment.

Online bullies and harassers use all sorts of platforms, including social media (like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram), forums, gaming sites, comments sections, mobile phone chat groups and more.

There’s a very detailed definition of cyberbullying at www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying/

How you can stay safer

Think before you post: when posting or commenting online, consider what you say and what effect it may have. Never post comments that are abusive, threatening or are likely to cause offence to others.

Keep personal information personal: do not say anything or publish pictures that might later cause you or someone else embarrassment. Be aware of what friends post about you, or how they reply to your posts – particularly about your personal details and activities.

Make the most of the privacy settings: keep your profiles closed, allowing access only to your chosen friends and family.

Social media help sections can show you how to block users, change your privacy and contact settings, and report abusive content:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/help/
• Twitter - https://support.twitter.com/
• Instagram - https://help.instagram.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin
• Google+ - https://support.google.com/plus#topic=6320382
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/yt/policyandsafety/en-GB/reporting.html
• Pinterest - https://help.pinterest.com/en
• Tumblr - https://www.tumblr.com/abuse
• Snapchat - https://support.snapchat.com/en-GB

Report cyberbullying to internet service providers: lots of content online is offensive or upsetting. It’s not always a criminal offence, but it often violates the terms and conditions established by social media sites and internet service providers. Service providers are often keen to take action against users who abuse their terms of service.

If you believe that you are the victim of online bullying, keep a record of the content (for example, take a screenshot). You can use this to help your report to the service provider and, if necessary, the police.

An interview with Worcester mum Lucy Alexander whose son, Felix, took his own life after years of online bullying.

West Mercia Police have put these animations together to show how cruel cyberbullying can be. They are taken from conversations that people have had online.

At National Online Safety, it is our mission to make the internet a safer place for children. We will achieve this through equipping school staff, parents and children with the knowledge they need to understand online dangers and how best to react should an incident arise.

Online Safety courses for the whole school community including staff, parents and pupils are available.

We encourage parents to follow the link to register your email address to access resources., and join us in learning how to keep our children safe online.

Register with National Online Safety

You can access National Online Safety online via any device - including via their smartphone app. To download the app, please visit your device's app store:
Apple Store
Google Play Store

National Online Safety Website

Wake-Up Wednesday

At St Egwin's CE Middle School we find great importance in making sure the children keep safe whilst online. Please find below some useful links to sites which will help you at home.

Useful Links:

• CEOP | https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

• Think U Know | https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

• Childnet | https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers

• National Online Safety | https://nationalonlinesafety.com/