Cyberbullying can take many forms, ranging from threats of violence, hate speech, discrimination, trolling, false accusations to public humiliation, among others. It can sometimes spiral out of control and cause profound consequences. However, here are some steps you can take in case you are a target of cyberbullying:

Document everything - Save any harassing messages, emails, posts, or comments, as it can be useful when reporting the case to the authorities or online platforms.

Limit your profile visibility - Check who can see your profile: some platforms offer the possibility to make your profile not visible publicly, meaning that you need to approve an account that wants to follow you. See further advice on how to set account privacy on Instagram, X and TikTok. On Facebook, you can set a default audience, so that all your future posts are only visible to your friends for example.

Block and report - Use the Block option to prevent further abuse through an online service or engaging with the content you share. In addition, make sure to report the person to the platform for harassing you, along with any content that presents cyberbullying.

Don't engage - Avoid engaging with the cyberbully or responding to their messages, as engaging can sometimes fuel further harassment.

Reduce your online footprint - Limit the visibility of your online content only to your circle of followers or friends. For example, you can limit who can view your Facebook posts and set them to friends only, or set an account to be private using the advice on limiting profile visibility. You can also ask people not to share photos of you online and refrain from tagging you in their posts.

Consider using an anonymous account - In case you need to use an online account for work purposes, create an anonymous account under a made-up name and don’t share it with anyone.

Seek support - Talk to someone you trust about what you're experiencing, such as a friend, family member, teacher, or counsellor.

Report to the police - In case the cyberbullying persists and you feel frightened for your physical safety, call the police without hesitation.