Cyberbullying

Overview

Cyberbullying is bullying that happens through phones, computers, tablets and the internet. It can include mean messages, spreading rumours online, sharing embarrassing photos or videos, leaving someone out of group chats on purpose, pretending to be someone else online, or sending threats. Because it happens on devices, it can feel like there is no escape — it can follow a person home and continue day and night. Cyberbullying is not the person's own fault, and it is not something they have to handle alone.

Yes. Surveys from many countries suggest that a large share of young people — often between one in five and one in three — have experienced some form of cyberbullying. Adults experience it too, including in workplaces and on social media. Because much of it happens privately on phones, the true number is likely higher than reported.

Anyone can be affected, but it is most often reported by children and teenagers aged around 11 to 18, and by young adults. It can also affect adults in workplaces, in online communities and in relationships. People who are seen as 'different' in some way — for example because of their appearance, disability, sexuality, gender identity, culture or faith — are targeted more often. People who are already anxious, isolated or going through a hard time may find it hits them harder.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Feeling upset, embarrassed, angry or ashamed after using a phone or computer
• Becoming secretive or jumpy about devices, or suddenly avoiding them
• Checking messages or social media constantly, or feeling unable to stop
• Trouble sleeping, feeling tired all the time, or having bad dreams
• Headaches, stomach aches or feeling sick with no clear physical cause
• Losing interest in school, work, hobbies or friends
• Withdrawing from family and friends, or seeming unusually quiet
• Becoming irritable or having angry outbursts
• Low mood, low confidence, or saying things like 'nobody likes me'
• Not wanting to go to school or work, or asking to stay home

Symptoms in children

• Sudden reluctance to go to school or to take part in activities they used to enjoy
• Being clingy, tearful or more easily upset than usual
• Hiding their phone screen when an adult comes near, or refusing to talk about online life
• Becoming withdrawn, quiet or unusually aggressive at home
• Complaints of headaches or tummy aches, especially on school days
• A drop in schoolwork or falling out with friends
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Talking badly about themselves or saying they are worthless
• New accounts, or frequently deleting social media apps and then re-installing them

Symptoms in older adults

• Being targeted in family group chats, online forums or social media by relatives, carers or strangers
• Scam or abusive messages, including fake accounts pretending to be someone they know
• Feeling confused or distressed about how to block or report messages
• Reluctance to use technology they used to enjoy, or saying they want to stop using the internet
• Shame or embarrassment about 'not coping', which can delay asking for help
• Withdrawal, low mood or increased anxiety after starting to use a new device or app
• Being pressured or financially exploited online alongside abusive messages

Causes

Main causes

• Bullying behaviour that already exists in school, work or social groups moving online
• Feeling anonymous or 'far away' online, which can make people say things they would not say face to face
• Peer pressure, group dynamics and wanting to look clever or popular to others
• Anger, jealousy or revenge after a disagreement or relationship breakdown
• Prejudice against a person's appearance, identity, culture, disability, gender or sexuality
• Power imbalances — for example a group ganging up on one person, or a manager targeting a colleague
• Easy sharing and forwarding, which lets hurtful content spread very quickly to a wide audience

Risk factors

• Being seen as 'different' from the main group in some way
• Low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem or already feeling isolated
• Being new to a school, workplace or online community
• Having a disability, learning difficulty or additional support needs
• LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse young people are targeted more often than average
• Being in a relationship where an ex-partner shares or threatens to share private images
• Low supervision or no clear family rules about devices, or a child who spends a lot of time online without support
• Difficulty telling adults or asking for help, sometimes because a person fears being blamed or having their phone taken away

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or any worry that someone may harm themselves — seek help immediately, do not wait
• Panic attacks, severe anxiety or being unable to sleep or eat for several days
• Symptoms of physical harm after a threat, or a fear for your physical safety
• Significant distress that is not settling with support from family or friends
• A young person refusing to go to school or leave the house because of online abuse

Book a routine appointment if:

• Low mood, worry, or trouble sleeping that has lasted more than a couple of weeks
• Headaches, stomach aches or feeling sick that keep coming back and are linked to stress
• Changes in appetite or weight, or a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• A drop in school or work performance, or increasing withdrawal from friends
• You or your child want help knowing how to cope, and how to talk about bullying safely
• You need documentation or a letter of support, or advice on what to do about threats, images or extortion

Diagnosis

Cyberbullying is not a medical condition, so there is no specific medical test for it. A doctor, school counsellor or mental health professional will usually talk with you or your child about what has been happening online, how long it has been going on, how it is affecting sleep, mood, school or work, and what support is already in place. They will check whether there are any related health problems — such as anxiety, low mood, sleep difficulties or stress-related physical symptoms — that need their own support. Nothing you say will be reported back to the person bullying you, though if there is a risk of serious harm, professionals may have a duty to share information to keep you safe.

Tests that may be done

• A conversation about the online incidents: what was said or shared, when, and on which apps or platforms
• Questions about mood, sleep, appetite, school or work, and friendships
• Screening questions for anxiety and depression, which are simple questionnaires, not tests
• A physical check only if there are ongoing symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches
• Sometimes a scale or questionnaire about wellbeing to track how things change over time

What to expect at your appointment

Expect a supportive, judgement-free conversation rather than an examination. Appointments usually last 10 to 30 minutes. It helps to bring screenshots or a simple written record of dates and what happened. You or your child can be seen on your own for part of the appointment if that helps an honest conversation. The doctor will usually agree a plan with you: what to do about the bullying, who else to involve (such as school, a manager or the platform), and whether counselling or other support might help.

Treatment

There is no medicine for cyberbullying itself. The most effective response combines practical steps to stop the abuse — saving evidence, blocking, reporting, and involving school or workplace — with support to rebuild confidence and wellbeing. For most people that means talking to someone they trust and making some changes to how they use devices and social media. If there is also anxiety, low mood or a sleep problem, a doctor or mental health professional can offer talking therapy and, where appropriate, other treatments.

Self-care at home

• Save evidence before you block: take screenshots showing dates, names and messages
• Block and report the accounts on the platform itself, and use privacy settings so only people you know can contact you
• Tell at least one trusted person — a parent, friend, teacher, partner, manager or health professional
• Take regular breaks from your phone, and set 'do not disturb' times, especially in the evening and overnight
• Keep the phone out of the bedroom at night to protect sleep
• Turn off or limit notifications from apps where the bullying happens
• Remind yourself, out loud if it helps, that the comments are about the person writing them, not about you
• Keep up routines you enjoy: seeing friends, exercise, hobbies, fresh air and time away from screens
• If you are a parent, stay calm and listen first — avoid taking the phone away as a punishment, as this can make a young person stop telling you what is happening
• Do not reply or retaliate to the person bullying you — it often makes things worse and can make things look mutual

Medical treatments

A doctor cannot 'treat' bullying, but they can support the effects it has on health. If being bullied has led to anxiety, low mood, trauma symptoms or difficulty sleeping, the usual approach is a talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling or support from a mental health service. This kind of therapy can help change how you respond to difficult thoughts and rebuild confidence. Some young people are referred to child and adolescent mental health services. Medication is not used for bullying itself, but a doctor may discuss it in some cases of moderate or severe depression or anxiety — this is always a shared decision with your healthcare team, and you should never start or stop any medicine without talking to them first.

When is surgery considered?

Not applicable — cyberbullying is a social and emotional issue, and surgery plays no part in its care.

Living with this condition

Everyday life with cyberbullying works best with a simple, steady routine. Keep evidence of abuse in one folder so you are not constantly scrolling through it, and check for new messages at set times rather than all day. Decide with someone you trust how you will respond if a new message appears — for example, screenshot, block, and tell someone. Look after the basics: regular meals, sleep, movement and seeing people face to face. If your child is affected, keep talking and keep the door open — regular short check-ins work better than one big difficult conversation.

Lifestyle tips

• Set screen-free times and places, for example at meals and in the bedroom
• Follow accounts that make you feel good, and unfollow or mute ones that do not
• Spend time with people who treat you well, in person where possible
• Build in some movement most days — a walk, cycling, sport or dancing
• Try a simple wind-down routine before bed, such as reading or music rather than scrolling
• Talk to your school, workplace or platform about a plan if the abuse keeps recurring
• Keep a short record of incidents — dates, accounts and what happened — to make reporting easier

Diet and exercise

No diet or exercise plan will stop bullying, but ordinary healthy habits genuinely help you cope. Try to eat regularly, drink enough water, and include a variety of foods, especially fruit and vegetables. Move your body most days in whatever way you enjoy — being active lifts mood and reduces stress and helps sleep. Be gentle with yourself: during hard weeks, even small steps like a ten-minute walk or a shared meal with someone kind can make a real difference.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Cyberbullying can affect mood, confidence, sleep and concentration, and can be linked with anxiety and depression. It can also make people feel ashamed or isolated, even though the bullying is not their fault. These effects are real and worth taking seriously. They are also treatable, and most people do better once the abuse is stopped and they have support. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, get help straight away — call your local emergency number, or contact a telephone crisis line or the local mental health service. Please remember: crisis support is available, and asking for it is a sign of strength, not failure.

Prevention

Cyberbullying cannot always be prevented, but a lot can be done to reduce the risk and to make it less likely to continue. Open, calm conversations about online life — for families, schools and workplaces — help more than strict rules alone. Teaching children and adults how to block, report and use privacy settings gives them practical control. Clear rules, such as 'never share someone's photo without asking', help set a culture of respect. If bullying has happened before, agreeing a plan in advance for what to do can make it easier to act quickly next time.

Vaccines

Not applicable — there is no vaccine for cyberbullying. Vaccines do not protect against social or emotional harm.

Screening programmes

There is no screening programme for cyberbullying itself. Schools and health professionals sometimes ask simple wellbeing questions that can pick up on bullying, and it is always fine to raise it yourself at any appointment, even if the doctor has not asked.

Complications

If left untreated

• Ongoing anxiety, low mood or depression
• Sleep problems and lasting tiredness
• Panic attacks and physical stress symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches
• Falling behind or avoiding school, college or work
• Withdrawal from friends and family, and loneliness
• Low self-esteem and loss of confidence
• Risk of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, especially if the bullying continues and feels inescapable
• In some cases, images shared without consent can lead to ongoing distress and a need for legal advice

Long-term outlook

The outlook is genuinely hopeful. Most people who are bullied online feel much better once the abuse stops and they have someone on their side. Reporting, blocking and telling someone you trust often works faster than expected, and the effects on mood and sleep usually improve with support. Recovery is not always a straight line, and some people need extra help from counselling or a mental health service — that is a normal part of getting better, not a sign of failure.

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