Help

What to do about bullying or hate online?

Whether it's one nasty comment or ongoing cyberbullying — here are concrete steps, tips, and resources.

⚠️ If you're facing an acute threat, extortion, or feel unsafe: contact your local emergency services immediately (911 in the US, 999 in the UK, 112 across the EU). This applies regardless of everything else on this page.
1

Save the evidence

Take screenshots of comments, messages, or profiles — including date, time, and username. This matters if you report to the platform, police, or a support organization.

2

Don't fight back publicly

It's understandable to want to respond sharply — but public arguments often give attackers exactly the attention they want, and tend to escalate things further.

3

Block and report

Every major platform has a report function for harassment, hate speech, or bullying. Use it — even if you don't see an immediate reaction, every report contributes to enforcement.

4

Talk to someone

A trusted person, parent, friend, or counselor — keeping bullying to yourself usually makes it heavier. Talking about it often lifts some of the weight already.

5

Consider legal steps

Harassment, defamation, threats, or extortion are illegal online too, in most places. For ongoing or severe bullying, reporting to the police or a victim support organization can be worth it.

💡 Everyday tips & tricks

  • Set your profile to private. Most platforms let you control who can contact you or see your posts.
  • Don't feed the trolls. People looking for a reaction often lose interest fast when they don't get one.
  • Comment sections are optional. You can enjoy a video or post without reading what strangers think about it underneath.
  • It's okay to leave group chats. You don't have to stay in any chat that's hurting you — that's self-protection, not drama.
  • Use tools like Comment Shield to take some of the load off before it even reaches you.

🛡️ What Comment Shield can help with

Comment Shield hides toxic comments before you even read them — that reduces the everyday load. But it doesn't replace reporting to a platform or getting support when it's targeted bullying against you specifically. It's one piece, not a complete shield.

Resources

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988 · US, 24/7
Childline0800 1111 · UK, for under-19s
Cybersmile Foundationcybersmile.org · anti-cyberbullying charity
Befrienders Worldwidebefrienders.org · find a helpline in your country