How to Report Cyberbullying: What the Research Says

Knowing how to report cyberbullying
effectively is one of the most practically
important pieces of knowledge for
parents and children navigating the
digital world. Research finds that
effective reporting — to platforms,
to schools, and where necessary to
law enforcement — is one of the most
important steps in stopping cyberbullying
and protecting children from ongoing harm.

This article covers what the research
shows about reporting cyberbullying —
to whom, how, and when.

Before Reporting — Document Everything

Research on cyberbullying reporting
and outcomes consistently finds that
documentation — before any reporting
action — is the essential first step.
Documentation provides evidence for
platform reporting, school reporting,
and potential legal action.

What to document:
Screenshots of specific messages,
posts, images, or videos —
including usernames and timestamps.
The platform where the cyberbullying occurred.
Dates and times of incidents.
Any witnesses — other children
who saw or received the content.
The impact on your child.

Keep copies in multiple places —
screenshots saved to a device
and backed up.

Reporting to Online Platforms

Research on platform reporting
and cyberbullying finds that reporting
to platforms — using built-in reporting
tools — can result in content removal,
account warnings, and account suspension.
Most major platforms have specific
reporting options for bullying and harassment.

How to report on major platforms:

Instagram:
Go to the post, comment,
or profile.
Tap the three dots (…).
Select “Report” and follow the prompts.
Select “Bullying or harassment.”

Facebook:
Click the three dots on the post or profile.
Select “Find support or report.”
Select “Bullying and harassment.”

TikTok:
Press and hold the comment
or tap the share icon on the video.
Select “Report.”
Select “Bullying and harassment.”

Snapchat:
Press and hold the message.
Select “Report.”
Or go to the profile and
tap the three dots to report the account.

YouTube:
Click the three dots on the video or comment.
Select “Report.”
Select “Harassment or bullying.”

X (formerly Twitter):
Click the three dots on the post.
Select “Report post.”
Select “Harassment” or “Hateful conduct.”

Gaming platforms:
Use the in-game reporting system —
most platforms have a dedicated
report button.
Contact the platform’s support
team directly for severe incidents.

Research finding: platform reporting
does not always produce immediate
results — but it creates a record
and contributes to patterns that
platforms use to identify and
act on abusive accounts.

Reporting to School

Research on school involvement
and cyberbullying outcomes finds
that when cyberbullying involves
school peers — even if it occurs
off school grounds and outside
school hours — school reporting
is important and frequently effective.

Most schools have authority
to address cyberbullying that
affects the school environment
or involves students.

How to report to school effectively:

Request a meeting — in writing —
with the class teacher, school
counselor, or principal.

Bring documentation — screenshots
of specific incidents.

Present specific information:
Who is involved.
What has happened — specifically.
When and on which platforms.
The impact on your child.

Ask specifically:
What is the school’s cyberbullying policy?
What specific steps will the school take?
What is the timeline for action?
How will you communicate back to me?

Follow up in writing after
every meeting — creating a
paper trail and maintaining accountability.

Reporting to Law Enforcement

Research on cyberbullying and legal
intervention finds that some forms
of cyberbullying constitute criminal
behavior — and warrant police reporting.
These include:

Threats of violence — messages
that threaten physical harm.
Extortion — demands for money
or other things in exchange
for not sharing embarrassing content.
Sharing of intimate images —
including among minors — which
may constitute criminal offenses
in many jurisdictions.
Stalking and harassment that
produces genuine fear.
Hate crimes — cyberbullying
targeting protected characteristics
including race, religion, or sexual orientation.

How to report to law enforcement:
Contact your local police department —
either by visiting in person
or calling the non-emergency number.
Bring all documentation —
screenshots, dates, usernames.
Ask specifically about cyberbullying
and online harassment laws
in your jurisdiction.

In the US — additional reporting options:
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint
Center (IC3) — for severe cyberbullying
with criminal elements: ic3.gov
The National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children — for
incidents involving child sexual
exploitation: cybertipline.org

Reporting for Image-Based Abuse

Research on image-based abuse —
the non-consensual sharing of
intimate images — finds it one
of the most harmful forms of
cyberbullying, with significant
psychological impact.

If intimate images of your
child have been shared without consent:
Report to the platform immediately
using their specific reporting
tools for this type of content.
Contact law enforcement —
this is a criminal offense
in most jurisdictions.
In the US — contact the National
Center for Missing and Exploited
Children’s CyberTipline.

What to Do if Reporting Does
Not Produce Results

Research on cyberbullying and
reporting outcomes finds that
reporting does not always produce
immediate results — and that
persistent, escalating reporting
is often necessary.

If platform reporting does
not produce results:
Report again — using different
reporting categories.
Contact the platform’s support
team directly.
Consider contacting the platform
through official channels —
press or policy contacts —
for severe cases.

If school reporting does not
produce results:
Escalate to the principal —
then to the school district.
Reference the school’s cyberbullying
policy specifically.
File a formal complaint with
the school district if necessary.

Try This This Week

Practice 1 — The Documentation Practice
What it is: A deliberate creation
of a documentation system —
building the evidence base that effective reporting requires.

How to do it: This week create
a simple documentation system:

A folder on your phone or
computer for cyberbullying screenshots.
A simple written log — date,
platform, what happened, who was involved.

If cyberbullying has already
occurred — document everything
you have now.

Why it works: Research on
cyberbullying reporting and
outcomes consistently finds
that specific, well-documented
reports — with screenshots,
dates, and usernames — produce
significantly more effective
responses from platforms, schools,
and law enforcement than general
or undocumented complaints.

Practice 2 — The Platform Reporting Familiarization
What it is: A brief, practical
familiarization with the reporting
tools on your child’s main platforms —
so you know how to report quickly if needed.

How to do it: This week spend
fifteen minutes on each of
your child’s main platforms —
finding and familiarizing yourself
with the reporting tools:

Where is the report button?
What categories does it offer?
What information does it ask for?

You do not need to report
anything — just know where
the tools are.

Why it works: Research on
cyberbullying response and parental
preparedness finds that parents
who are familiar with platform
reporting tools before cyberbullying
occurs respond significantly
more quickly and effectively
when it does occur.

Practice 3 — The Child Reporting Education
What it is: A brief, specific
conversation teaching your child
how to report cyberbullying on
their main platforms — building
the skill they need to respond independently.

How to do it: Together with
your child this week — find
the reporting tools on their
main platforms and show them specifically:

“If anyone ever sends you
something unkind — here is
how to report it on [platform].”
Walk through the steps together.
“And then — always tell me. Show me the screenshot.”

Why it works: Research on
cyberbullying response skills
and outcomes finds that children
who know specifically how to
report cyberbullying — and have
practiced the steps — respond
more effectively and more quickly
than those who must figure
it out in the distress of the moment.

The Bottom Line

Reporting cyberbullying effectively
requires knowing where to report —
to platforms, to school, to
law enforcement — and how to
document and present the evidence
that makes reporting effective.

The research is clear: document
before reporting; use platform
reporting tools for content
removal; involve school when
classmates are involved; contact
law enforcement for criminal
behavior; and escalate persistently
when initial reports do not produce results.

Effective reporting stops cyberbullying,
protects children from ongoing
harm, and holds cyberbullies
accountable. Knowing how to
do it — before it is needed —
is one of the most important
digital parenting skills available.

Sources

Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W.
(2014). Bullying Beyond the
Schoolyard. Corwin Press.

Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P.,
& Agatston, P. W. (2012).
Cyberbullying: Bullying in the
Digital Age. Wiley-Blackwell.

StopBullying.gov (2023).
Cyberbullying: What is it and
how to report it.
US Department of Health and Human Services.

Smith, P. K., et al. (2008).
Cyberbullying: Its nature and
impact in secondary school pupils.
Journal of Child Psychology
and Psychiatry, 49(4), 376–385.