cyberbullyObs

**__Points to consider when addressing Cyberbullying:__**
1. If you feel uncomfortable about what someone is saying, you can just quit or log out of the conversation – and if possible, block that person or report them to the service provider abuse team. A good service provider should always make it clear how to report abuse.

2. You can tell the other person that you are saving the conversations, which may put a bully off. If you are being abused, bullied or harassed by anyone online, you should always save conversations as evidence.

3. You can refuse to answer questions of a personal nature, A bully may ask for a photo but refuse to send one of their own (though still beware, as they might use a fake one). Childnet recommends that you never send a photo of yourself to someone you don’t know offline.

4. It is important not to retaliate or return received messages. Replying to messages, particularly in anger, is probably just what the bully wants, and by not replying the bully may think that the target did not receive or see the message, or that they were not bothered by it. Instead, the person should keep the evidence and take it to their parent or a trusted adult.

6. Encourage children to think about the information they have in the public domain and where they go online. It is important that pupils are careful about whom they give their mobile phone number to, and that they consider whether they should stay members of particular social networks.

7. Changing contact details, such as Instant Messenger identity or a mobile phone number, can be an effective way of stopping unwanted contact. However, it is important to be aware that some children may not want to do this, and will see this as a last resort for both practical and social reasons, and they may feel that they are being punished.

8. Encourage young people to report bullying behaviour they are aware of to trusted adults.

9. Students should avoid being accessories by virtue of contributing to any kind of bullying activity.

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