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Responding to online bullying

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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

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to the correct definition.

Correct Answer:mental health,the health of our minds and emotions

the health of our minds and emotions

Correct Answer:body image,how we see, think or feel about our body

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

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

Assessment exit quiz

Download exit quiz questions (PDF)

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the correct definition.

Correct Answer:ignore,to pretend that something is not happening or not important

to pretend that something is not happening or not important

Correct Answer:passive bystander,someone who does nothing when something bad happens

someone who does nothing when something bad happens

Correct Answer:active bystander,someone who takes action when something bad happens

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...