Where should you turn when someone is being bullied online? Start with the place where the behavior occurred, such as a social media platform or game, and consider whether a school or another organization also needs to know. If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services first.

Making a report about cyberbullying can involve more than one recipient. A platform can review a post under its rules, while a school may be able to address the effect on a student’s day. Choose the route that fits what happened and the kind of help needed.

Report Cyberbullying Where It Happened

If the behavior appeared in a social media post, private message, game, or group chat, look for the service’s reporting option on the relevant content or account. Select the category that best describes what happened, and include the requested details. If several posts or messages are involved, the service may ask you to report each one separately.

Save the link or case number if the service provides one. A platform might remove content, restrict an account, ask for more information, or decide the material does not violate its rules. It may not disclose action taken against another user. Review blocking and privacy options after preserving evidence.

To decide how to report cyberbullying, identify the specific post or message and explain its context. For example, a single screenshot may not show that similar messages arrived from several accounts after earlier accounts were blocked. A short description can help a reviewer understand the sequence without requiring you to share an entire conversation.

Save Information That Helps Explain the Situation

When it is safe, record the date, time, account name, platform, and a link or screenshot of the relevant content. Keep any messages that show threats or a continuing pattern. StopBullying.gov recommends documenting incidents and preserving evidence before using it to make a report.

Store the information privately and share it only with someone helping you. Avoid forwarding abusive material or posting it publicly; that can expose the targeted person to a wider audience.

If an incident involves an intimate image of a child, do not download, copy, or forward it. Tell a trusted adult and use the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s guidance on reporting the image or its location. The reporting service can explain what information to provide.

If you cannot safely save a screenshot, write down what you can, such as the account name, time, and where the content appeared. You can still ask for help even if the post has disappeared or you do not have every detail.

Tell a School or Another Responsible Organization

When the people involved are connected through a school, tell a trusted teacher, counselor, principal, or another person named in the school’s reporting process. Describe what happened online and how it affects attendance, learning, activities, or a student’s sense of safety. The behavior may occur outside school hours and still have an effect at school.

Ask how to make a cyberbullying report and which staff member will receive it. You can request a copy of the school’s policy, ask when to expect an update, and discuss practical steps such as identifying a safe adult to contact during the school day. A school may have limits on what it can share about another student’s discipline.

For conduct connected to a club, volunteer group, or workplace, find the organizer or designated contact for concerns. Explain the connection to the organization and ask what process applies. If the first person is involved in the behavior, ask for another contact or follow the organization’s alternative reporting route.

You can also submit an online bullying report to the platform while telling the organization. One handles the service where the content appeared; the other may be able to address the relationship or activity in which the people interact.

Respond to Serious Threats

If someone faces immediate physical danger, call 911 in the United States. If there is a serious threat of violence but the danger is not immediate, contact local law enforcement through its non-emergency channel and explain what was said, when it appeared, and why you are concerned.

Reporting cyberbullying to authorities may be appropriate when the situation includes threats or stalking. You do not need to decide which law applies before describing the facts. A trusted adult or support person can help you make contact and organize the information.

Share relevant details through the official channel the recipient gives you. Avoid confronting the person responsible or arranging an in-person meeting to obtain more evidence. If a threat names a specific place or time, communicate that detail promptly.

Ask About Privacy and Follow Up

Before sharing sensitive details with a school, organization, or support person, ask who will see your report, whether your name can be kept private, and when they may have to share information. Some recipients have duties to pass concerns to others, so they may not be able to promise complete confidentiality. You can ask these questions before describing the incident in full.

After submitting a report, keep a copy or reference number and note the date. If you receive no response, ask the contact person whether it was received and when you can expect an update. If the behavior continues, provide new dates and examples through the same channel or ask about the next level of review.

If you are deciding how a cyberbullying incident should be reported on behalf of someone else, speak with the person affected when safe and practical. Ask what they want shared and whether they would like you to accompany them. A trusted adult can also help a young person identify a safe next step.

Reporting Checklist

  • Address immediate danger first; call 911 if someone is in immediate physical danger.
  • Save relevant dates, account names, links, and screenshots when safe; do not copy or forward intimate images of a child.
  • Choose the platform, school, organization, or authorities based on the situation.
  • Ask who will see the information and what response or follow-up to expect.
  • Keep the report reference and share new incidents with the appropriate contact.