In the event of cyberbullying, listening and fast support are essential. Whether you’re the victim or close to the victim, here are some tips on dealing with it, and where to get help.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is a pervasive and intentional act of aggression committed by an individual or a group of individuals against a victim using various digital channels. These may include social networks, forums and chats, text messages, and email.There are many types of cyberbullying:
- Insults, defamation, humiliation, reputational damage, and online threats
- Disseminating compromising photos and/or videos (including of a sexual nature)
- Spreading rumors or disclosing private information with the aim of harming (“doxing”)
- Account hacking and digital identity theft
- Sending repeated aggressive messages
These are all forms of online aggression. They can have serious consequences on the psychological and physical health of the victims, which is why they must be reported and dealt with straight away.
How do you recognize cyberbullying?
IIt’s often difficult for a victim’s loved ones to detect if they’re being bullied. But certain behaviors can alert you: withdrawal, isolation, loss of interest in social activities, anxiety, sleep disorders, unusual outbursts... If you suspect anything, it’s important to talk about it with the victim so you can hear their side of the story and assess the situation.
How should you respond?
If you are the victim, the first step is to break the silence. If you are a loved one, listen to the victim and help them come up with a plan to tackle it:
- Gather digital evidence (record URLs and posts, screenshot public and private messages etc.) and keep them in a file.
- File a complaint with the police. Some countries have specific procedures for online harassment.
If you live in France, you can call 3018 to report a case of cyberbullying and access counselling support, technical solutions and even legal assistance.
Orange launches Safe Zone on its gaming platforms
To raise awareness of cyberbullying among young users, we have launched a dedicated Safe Zone on Fortnite and Roblox. This unique safe space enables victims or witnesses of cyberbullying to access advice.