10 Things To Do If You’re Being Bullied

Being a victim of bullying hurts! No one wants to be bullied or see their friends or family members bullied. If you are being bullied, or know someone who is and want to help, you’ve come to the right place. ASKfm has some tips to help you, or your loved one get through this. Always remember, you’re not alone!

  1. Take a breather – Seeing negative comments and posts can be very emotional. Take a minute to cool off, regroup and gather your thoughts before doing anything.
  2. Keep it 100 – You’re an awesome person! Stay true to yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. Remember that when someone is trying to knock you down.
  3. Don’t drink the haterade – Sometimes bullies are just looking for a reaction. Definitely stand up for yourself, but don’t feel obligated to respond. Your lack of a response shows bullies that you’re not letting their negative comments affect you.
  4. Talk it out – Show your parents, teacher or another trusted adult what posts are bothering you and discuss it with them. They can offer you the help and support needed if bullying occurs.
  5. Screenshot it – Keep track of the bullying comments and posts just in case the situation escalates and you need help addressing the issue. Take screenshots or snap a pic to help you keep track.  
  6. Report it – Most social media networks offer reporting tools to combat bullying and other inappropriate behavior. Use those tools to report bullies – and don’t worry, reporting is almost always anonymous so the bully won’t know who reported them.
  7. Block them – If you’re repeatedly being harassed by a specific person, block them from your account. Social media networks are equipped with ways to prevent bullying users from seeing, posting or commenting to your account.
  8. Find your squad – Surround yourself with people who care about you.  Friends, family members, even pets can play a big role in reminding you what a great person you are. Lean on them for that additional nudge of support when you’re faced with a bully (whether online or offline).
  9. Kill them with kindness – Bullies are just like the rest of us, but may be missing the loving and nurturing environment that many of us enjoy. Give them a compliment or respond with a positive comment to show them they matter too.
  10. Pay it forward – If you’ve ever been bullied, you know how isolating it can be. So when you see others being bullied, show them some support and stand up to the bully on their behalf.

Now you’re armed with the tools to help you, go ahead and share these with your friends and loved ones. They’ll thank you for it!