Click on a thumbnail to view a safety PSA
If you become a victim of cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, predatorial behavior, or feel threatened in any way, you should:
STOP returning all messages from the person that is harassing you. If someone is being abusive, and you respond to them, it will only prompt the bully to continue because they are getting what they want.
BLOCK that person immediately and delete them from your profile or contact list. If they can't interact with you online they can't continue to hurt you.
ROLL to a parent, trusted adult or law enforcement officer and report the incident. Keep a copy of the harassing interactions by saving the comments and emails that will show others what was has been going on.
And girls, though you may at times feel you do not know where the cyber-bullying is coming from (because comments etc. seem anonymous), they can be found. The authorities can trace the IP address of the information to locate the offender. And always make sure you report this behavior to your Internet service provider as well.
FYI...
In many states, cyber-stalking is a federal offense that carries with it up to eight years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
Identity theft is a federal crime! The offender can be prosecuted with a C Felony, punishable by 2-8 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
Cyber-bullying is taken very seriously by the police and can lead to criminal prosecution.
