How Do I Stop Someone From Harassing Me Online?

Have you taken screenshots of all the harassing messages that the person has sent you?

If you are a minor, have you told your parents or your legal guardian about the harassment?

Have you tried reporting to the website/social media site where the harassment is taking place?

Have you tried filing a police complaint to your local authorities?

Have you tried not responding to the harassment or the harasser?

Have you tried blocking the harasser on all online platforms?

Make screenshots of all the harassing content. You might need this later as proof. Moreover, collect evidence of conversations where you attempt to stop the harassment.

Minors should tell a parent or a trusted adult. The adult may take any action necessary such as reporting to the authorities. If the harasser is a person from the same school as the minor, contact the school and their parents as they need to know about the situation.

If the harassment continues or you think that these steps are insufficient, contact the website/social media site where the individual is publishing their hateful content.

File a criminal complaint. In many countries, you have to personally appear at a police station to file a complaint, while in others it’s sufficient to write a letter to the office of the prosecutor of the city where the perpetrator lives. Add the screenshots that you have made! If the prosecutor thinks that a crime has occurred, they will initiate a criminal investigation, even without a complaint having been filed.

Don’t directly respond to the text messages, instant messages, emails or other communications you may have received from the bully. Bullies want to elicit a reaction from their targets, so firing back a text will only make things worse. Your best course of action is simply to disengage.

Immediately put an end to the bully’s ability to harass you online by blocking that person from direct communication with you. Take advantage of social media sites’ privacy settings to make sure the bully can’t engage with you online anymore.

If the harassment continues, simply take a break from all platforms and go take a vacation if possible. If not, tell your work place about the harassment and they might take some action as well. This will also get some time for the local authorities to take action.