Donít respond. If someone bullies you, remember that your reaction is usually exactly what the bully wants. It gives him or her power over you. Who wants to empower a bully?
Donít retaliate. Getting back at the bully turns you into one and reinforces the bullyís behavior. Help avoid a whole cycle of aggression.
Save the evidence. The only good news about digital bullying is that the harassing messages can usually be captured, saved, and shown to someone who can help. You need to do this even if itís minor stuff, in case things escalate.
Talk to a trusted adult. You deserve backup. Itís always good to involve a parent but - if you canít - a school counselor usually knows how to help. Sometimes both are needed. If youíre really nervous about saying something, see if thereís a way to report the incident anonymously at school.
Block the bully. If the harassmentís coming in the form of instant messages, texts, or profile comments, do yourself a favor: Use preferences or privacy tools to block the person. If itís in chat, leave the ďroom.Ē
Be civil. Even if you donít like someone, itís a good idea to be decent and not sink to the other personís level. Also, research shows that gossiping about and trash talking others increases your risk of being bullied. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
Donít be a bully. How would you feel if someone harassed you? You know the old saying about walking a mile in someoneís shoes; even a few seconds of thinking about how another person might feel can put a big damper on aggression. Thatís needed in this world.
Be a friend, not a bystander. Watching or forwarding mean messages empowers bullies and hurts victims even more. If you can, tell bullies to stop or let them know harassment makes people look stupid and mean. Itís time to let bullies know their behavior is unacceptable - cruel abuse of fellow human beings. If you canít stop the bully, at least try to help the victim and report the behavior.