Regardless of your age, gender, beliefs or origins, cyberbullying can affect anyone and leads to devastating effects in some cases. Insults, threats, revenge porn, identity-based hate, sexual harassment... These attacks are criminal offenses and you must protect yourself.

Here are some tips to help you if you face this scourge.

The reflex to have!

Take screenshots of the harassment as early as possible. If you don't use the SafeBear app, screenshots will be a good way to explain the situation to your loved ones but also your only way to prove that an attack occurred in case of legal proceedings.

The SafeBear app facilitates the collection of evidence by ensuring their authentic character.

"In terms of evidence, a simple screenshot is insufficient and can only constitute a beginning of written proof." National Chamber of Justice Commissioners - 2023

Talk about it

But not to just anyone. Talk about your situation to a trusted person, a close friend or a family member. It should be someone mature and understanding who knows how to be tactful. In a situation like this, isolation can have a dangerous effect on your health. If you wish to discuss it with a professional, you can contact an anti-hate association. If you feel your health deteriorating, call a health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, or simply your family doctor.

Whoever you confide in, remember to give them as many details as possible. The more you say, the faster this situation will be resolved.

If you are a minor and/or a victim of school bullying, remember to talk to an adult. It can be a parent but also an older brother or sister. Your teachers, playground supervisors, school counselors and school nurses are also there to listen to you, even if the harassment happens outside the school. If you are afraid to confide in an adult, you can do so with a trusted friend and ask them to accompany you. The essential thing is not to remain alone.

Step back from the situation

Easy to say, hard to do when our mind is monopolized by the malice we are victim of. However, finding an activity that frees the mind is the best way to step back and take a deep breath. At the cinema for example, your phone is off for two hours and it's a time during which you won't have any worries. Doing sports or reading are also two good solutions, provided you stay away from social networks during your activity.

"Don't feed the trolls"

This CNIL recommendation urges you not to respond to provocation. Reacting to insults can poison a situation, attacks can multiply and other harassers can be attracted. If you seek revenge, insult and/or threaten in return, you yourself commit an offense. However, whether you react or not, the aggression can continue. There is no right or wrong solution to stop an aggressor and the outcome depends on situations. It can be very frustrating for the victim to let their aggressor act with impunity. If you absolutely want to respond, stay neutral. You can say STOP to a harasser and ask them to remove the hateful content against you. You can remind your aggressor that you know your rights and that this is an offense. You have the right to file a complaint, the law is there to protect you.

Protect yourself

The quickest and most effective way to end online aggression is to report the content and block the person. You can also request platforms to remove content about you.

Report inappropriate behavior on X (Twitter)

Report inappropriate behavior on Facebook

Report inappropriate behavior on Instagram

Report inappropriate behavior on TikTok

Report inappropriate behavior on SnapChat

File a complaint

If the situation is serious, if your mental and/or physical health is affected, file a complaint. It is recommended to report the offense to the PHAROS platform, the official portal for reporting illegal content on the Internet. However, this is not a police record or a formal complaint.

To initiate legal proceedings, go to a police station or gendarmerie. You can first file a police record. This report does not necessarily initiate an investigation but it is a first deposit of evidence. If all your efforts to protect yourself have not succeeded, file a complaint.

And after?

Because filing a complaint unfortunately does not mean the end of the ordeal, you must think about what comes next. During the time of the investigation carried out by judicial authorities, cyberbullying can continue, and even after conviction if the offense is committed by several different people. Moreover, cyberbullying is a serious offense that leaves many psychological consequences.

In all cases, you should not neglect the signals of body and mind. It is essential to be accompanied by a health professional (psychologist, psychiatrist, child psychiatrist), if only to have an informed outside opinion, even once the ordeal is over.