Cyberbullying is one of the most common online harms facing Australian kids — and it's happening in most classrooms, not just a few. In the eSafety Commissioner's 2024–25 survey of 3,454 children aged 10 to 17, more than half of girls (56%) and half of boys (50%) said they had experienced cyberbullying. If you have kids online, the odds are it has already touched their world in some way.
Why do people bully online?
Most kids who bully aren't "bad kids". Online, three things lower the barrier: distance (you don't see the other person's reaction), anonymity (you can hide behind a screen or a fake account), and audience (a cruel comment can win laughs or status in a group chat). Add the fact that hurt people often hurt people, and you have a recipe for behaviour that a child would rarely repeat face to face.
How to spot it
Kids often hide cyberbullying because they're embarrassed or afraid you'll take their phone away. Watch for changes rather than confessions: becoming withdrawn or anxious after using a device, suddenly avoiding their phone, secrecy, trouble sleeping, or reluctance to go to school. A shift in mood tied to screen use is worth a gentle conversation.
What kids can do
Teach them the same four steps we teach in schools: don't retaliate (it almost always makes things worse), screenshot the evidence, block and report the account, and tell a trusted adult. The goal is to take the power back without escalating.
How to report it
Start with the platform — every major app has a report function, and serious content often breaches their rules. If a platform won't act, Australia has a world-first safety net: you can report serious cyberbullying to the eSafety Commissioner, who can require platforms to remove material targeting an Australian child. Keep the evidence you screenshotted — it makes reporting far faster.
For parents and schools
The single most important thing is your reaction. If a child's first experience of telling an adult is losing their device, they'll stop telling you. Stay calm, listen, and make a plan together. Cyberbullying thrives in silence — the antidote is a kid who knows they can come to you without judgement.
Want your students to know exactly how to handle cyberbullying? Book a cyber safety presentation for your school.
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Jonny covers this topic and more in live sessions for students, parents and staff.
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