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      Responding to online bullying

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain what to do if I witness online bullying.

      Key learning points

      1. It is good to be an active bystander in order to reduce online bullying.
      2. It is not acceptable to ignore online bullying if we witness it.
      3. We can report our concerns to the website or app that we are using.
      4. We can report our concerns to trusted adults and the police.
      5. If we are the victim of bullying, we will need support from trusted people.

      Keywords

      • Bystander - someone who witnesses something

      • Active bystander - someone who takes action when something bad happens

      • Passive bystander - someone who does nothing when something bad happens

      • Ignore - to pretend that something is not happening or not important

      Common misconception

      If I am not the bully, I've done nothing wrong.

      Witnessing bullying and doing nothing is also a serious problem. Bystanders often have the power to report or challenge harmful behaviour and protect those around them.

      Teacher tip

      Pupils should be encouraged to be positive and active bystanders when they witness harmful behaviour. They should also be taught to assess the risk to themselves when challenging and reporting abuse. Sometimes, it is necessary to seek further support.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

      Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

      Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the word to the correct definition.

      Correct Answer:mental health,the health of our minds and emotions
      Correct Answer:body image,how we see, think or feel about our body
      Correct Answer:screen time,any time spent on a digital device with a screen, e.g., a smartphone

      Q2.
      Which of these statements about online bullying are not correct?

      Correct answer: Online bullying only impacts someone in the moment.
      Correct answer: If you are bullied online, just log off and ignore the problem.
      Online bullying can have an impact on someone offline.
      Online bullying is just as harmful as in-person bullying.

      Q3.
      What should a person never do if they experience online bullying?

      Correct answer: respond to it
      report it
      Correct answer: retaliate
      block the account

      Q4.
      Why is online bullying so harmful?

      It is always private and only the victim ever experiences it.
      Correct answer: It can become a public spectacle and others can join in.
      Correct answer: It can be hard to know who is responsible due to anonymous accounts.
      It is always easy to tell who online bullies are and so we can avoid them.

      Q5.
      Which of the following are not potential effects of online bullying?

      Correct answer: improved body image
      lowered self-esteem
      worries for physical safety
      Correct answer: a feeling of safety and security at home

      Q6.
      Who can you go to for support with online bullying?

      Correct answer: a trusted adult
      Correct answer: site administrators and moderators
      other strangers online
      Correct answer: the police

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the words to the correct definition.

      Correct Answer:ignore,to pretend that something is not happening or not important
      Correct Answer:passive bystander,someone who does nothing when something bad happens
      Correct Answer:active bystander,someone who takes action when something bad happens

      Q2.
      Which of the following statements about online bullying are accurate?

      It is the responsibility of only the victim to stand up to online bullying.
      If you aren't the one being bullied, it's not your problem.
      Correct answer: It is everyone's responsibility to stand up to online bullying.

      Q3.
      Which of the following are examples of how an active bystander behaves in relation to cyberbullying?

      retaliate aggressively to the bully
      Correct answer: report the bully on the site they are using
      Correct answer: reach out to the victim to check in
      ignore the bullying because it's not happening to them

      Q4.
      What can happen if we retaliate when we see online bullying?

      The bully may stop.
      Correct answer: The bully can become more aggressive.
      The bully may say sorry.

      Q5.
      If we are the victim of online bullying, we can go to people for support.

      Correct Answer: trusted

      Q6.
      Which of the following shows the traits of an active bystander?

      ignoring when a person is discriminated against online
      Correct answer: reporting when a person is discriminated against online
      spreading harmful disinformation against groups of people online
      Correct answer: asking if a person needs support after receiving unkind messages online

      To help you plan your 8 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Responding to online bullying, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...