Stop Cyberbullying Day: How to Protect Kids, Speak Up, and Be Kind Online

June 20 is Stop Cyberbullying Day, a much-needed time to reflect on how we treat each another online. It's become increasingly clear that many online communities have grown distant from kindness, empathy, and basic respect in recent years. This shift affects everyone, from kids navigating friendships on gaming platforms to adults participating in social media or professional forums.

When cruelty is normalized or brushed off as “just a joke,” the entire digital environment turns hostile. The result? Mental health suffers, online trust erodes, and everyday interactions become charged with anxiety or fear. Whether it's targeted harassment or subtle exclusion, cyberbullying has real consequences for victims, families, and even bystanders.

That’s why education and awareness are essential. Teaching kids, teens, and adults how to recognize, respond to, and rise above cyberbullying isn’t just about prevention, it’s about building a better, more compassionate internet for all of us.

What Is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying includes any type of harassment, shaming, threats, or cruel behavior online. Common forms of cyberbullying include:

Hurtful comments or name-calling in a group chat.
Rumors or doctored photos spread on social media.
Threats sent via DMs or texts.
Being excluded from online games or groups.
Fake accounts impersonating someone to humiliate or trick others.

Unlike schoolyard bullying, this form can follow kids home and can spread fast to a large audience. And summer break can also increase the risk, because kids have more screen time and less supervision, increasing the chance of harmful interactions.

The ‘Herd Effect’: When Good Kids Join In

Cyberbullying doesn’t always start with bad intentions. Sometimes, otherwise kind and thoughtful kids join in simply because others are doing it. Psychologists call this the herd effect, a phenomenon where individuals mimic the behavior of a group, even if it goes against their values, simply to fit in.

In online spaces, this can look like:

Liking or sharing a hurtful meme
Adding sarcastic or mean comments to a trending post
Staying silent when a peer is targeted

Peer pressure, the desire to “belong,” and the perceived anonymity of the internet all fuel this behavior.

Important reminder:
A bystander—or a silent participant can cause just as much damage as the initial bully. Standing up, supporting victims, or simply stepping away from negativity is a powerful act of digital courage.

Your Digital Footprint Is Forever

One harsh comment, one cruel DM, one toxic video—it can stick with you. Screenshots live forever, and your online behavior is part of how others see you in the real world.

Real-world consequences of cyberbullying include:

School suspensions or disciplinary actions
Lost college admissions or scholarship opportunities
Job offers rescinded due to online behavior
Legal action in cases of harassment or threats
Damaged friendships, reputations, and mental health

What you post says who you are, so be the kind of person you’d want others to be.

Read more about how you can create a positive digital footprint:

What to Do If You're Being Cyberbullied: 3 Major DOs

If you or someone you know is being targeted online, it’s important to act quickly but thoughtfully. Here are three key things every victim should do:

1. DO Document Everything

Take screenshots or screen recordings of any abusive messages, posts, or images. Save timestamps, usernames, and platform details. This evidence is crucial if you need to report the behavior to school officials, platform moderators, or even law enforcement.

2. DO Report and Block

Use the built-in reporting tools on social media, messaging apps, and games. Most platforms allow you to block or mute harassers so they can no longer contact you. Reporting helps trigger moderation, and blocking gives you breathing room to feel safe.

3. DO Talk to Someone You Trust

You don’t have to go through it alone. Reach out to a parent, teacher, counselor, or trusted adult. If you’re an adult, talk to a friend, manager, or support service. Just expressing how you feel can ease the emotional weight—and open the door to practical support and intervention.

How to Protect Kids from Cyberbullying

1. Start the Conversation

Encourage open discussions. Ask:

“Who do you interact with online?”
“Have you seen anything upsetting or unfair?”
“What would you do if a friend were being bullied?”

2. Set Boundaries and Monitor Activity

Establish screen time routines and supervise online spaces where needed. Use Parental Controls to manage access and spot red flags.

Pro tip for parents: Bitdefender Parental Control tools help you monitor digital behavior and block harmful content while respecting your child’s independence.

3. Teach Safe Reporting

Show your child how to report, block, and screenshot harmful messages on platforms they use. Remind them that it's okay to ask for help.

4. Encourage Kindness and Empathy

Being online doesn’t give anyone a free pass to be unkind. Praise empathy, inclusion, and respectful communication. Help children understand their role in shaping the online world.

A Note for Grandparents

Seniors are also vulnerable, especially on platforms like Facebook or messaging apps. While they may not face cyberbullying in the same way teens do, they can experience ridicule, isolation, or targeted harassment. We strongly encourage you to have a talk with the elderly people in your life and ask if they need help navigating or dealing with the online world.

Break the Silence, Build Resilience

In the digitalized world we live in today, cyberbullying can feel almost inevitable – just one of the major side effects of constant connectivity and anonymous interactions. But that doesn't mean we’re powerless. Every time we speak up, every time we stand by someone being targeted, and every time we foster safer, more respectful online spaces, we chip away at the power bullies hold.

When we choose empathy over silence and action over apathy, the bullies lose their influence, and the internet becomes a better place for all of us.

This Stop Cyberbullying Day, let’s raise awareness, educate with intention, and make the internet safer for everyone: one conversation, one post, and one act of empathy at a time.