Online abuse
Learn how to help keep safe from online abuse and how to get support. You can also report cybercrime to us online, by phone, or in person
What online abuse is
Online abuse can be anything done online meant to hurt or upset someone else. It’s not always a crime.
Types of online abuse
Some common types of online abuse include:
- cyberbullying: when someone targets you online with repeated threats or tries to humiliate you
- cyberstalking: when someone uses the internet to track and harass you in a way that makes you feel scared or distressed
- online harassment: is harassment that does not happen in person
- trolling: when someone aims to upset you online
- doxxing: when someone posts your personal information when you do not want them to
- cyberflashing: when someone sends a picture of genitals you didn’t ask for
- revenge porn: when someone makes, shares, or threatens to share intimate images of you
- grooming: when someone builds a relationship with a child to sexually abuse them
- online child sexual abuse: when someone forces or attracts a child into sexual activities or conversations on the internet
Read more about common types of online abuse and what to do if it happens from Get Safe Online.
How to report online abuse
If you want to tell us about online abuse, you can report it online, by phone, or in person.
What to do if online abuse happens
If you experience online abuse, you can:
- try not to reply
- report it to the social media or website it was shared on
- save or screenshot posts and messages (to give to us when you report it)
- block the sender
If you report it to us, it can help if you record:
- what was said or sent
- what platform, website, or app it was on
- when it was sent or posted
- the sender's name or username (if known)
Read more about Read more about common types of online abuse and what to do if it happens from Get Safe Online.
Get support from other organisations
Online abuse and cybercrime
You can get support from other organisations:
- UK Safer Internet Centre has a hotline, reporting tool, and advice to help protect young people online
- Get Safe Online for advice on how to protect yourself online
- Cyber Aware for National Cyber Security Centre advice on how to stay secure online
- National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has tools and advice to help you stay safe online
Young people
If you’re under 18 you can get support from:
- Internet Matters has advice for young people and anyone who supports them on how to stay safe online
- Childline for a free, confidential helpline for any problem (phone: 0800 1111)
- NSPCC for a free, confidential 24-hour helpline for any kind of problem (phone: 0808 800 5000)
Parents and people who work with children
To help protect young people online you can get support from:
- The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) lets you report online abuse and has advisors that can help young people
- CEOP Education has advice from the National Crime Agency on how to protect young people from online sexual abuse
- South West Grid for Learning (SWGfl) has online safety advice and educational tools for families, schools, and organisations
- Internet Matters has advice for young people and anyone who supports them on how to stay safe online
- CyberSafe Scotland helps parents and people who work with children to protect children online
- Parent Club helps parents in Scotland support their children
Ways to prevent online abuse
To help protect yourself online, you can:
- avoid sharing personal information online
- keep your accounts private and check your privacy settings online
- avoid public forums and replying publicly
- block accounts sending hurtful messages
- keep your device up to date
- find out more about common types of online abuse and what to do if it happens from Get Safe Online
- follow our guidance on how to keep safe online
Protect young people online
Follow our advice on how to help keep young people safe online.