Editor's note: This post was originally published on April 12, 2022, and has been updated for accuracy, comprehensiveness, and freshness on April 8, 2026.
Online bullying can have a powerful impact on mental and physical health. Victims can feel ashamed and embarrassed, making it difficult to talk about.
It’s easy to overlook cyberbullying because it doesn’t happen in a real place, but the damage is very real. Teens are common victims, but online bullying can happen to anyone. There’s no shame in being a victim at any age.
If you or someone you love is a victim of cyberbullying, it’s best to seek options, like getting legal advice with a LegalShield® membership, instead of hoping bullies will simply stop on their own.
In this guide, we'll explain what counts as cyberbullying, when it may be a criminal or civil issue, and what you can do to protect yourself or your family.
Cyberbullying is repeated harmful behavior that happens through digital platforms. It can take place on social media, in online games, through text messages, email, or anywhere else people interact digitally.
Here are a few examples of cyberbullying:
The harassment doesn’t have to happen in the “real” world to have a real impact. Some studies show links between cyberbullying and suicide.
If your child is dealing with ongoing harassment, learning how social media affects teens can help you recognize when it's time to take action.
Cyberbullying can cause harm even without rising to the level of a crime. Anyone can be a victim ofcyberbullying.
For victims, cyberbullying can contribute to:
Cyberbullying can also escalate into dangerous abuses against victims, like stalking, extortion, or even violence.
Cyberbullying covers a range of behavior patterns. Whether, and exactly when, cyberbullying is illegal varies by state.
Being rude online, like leaving insulting comments on a post, usually isn't against the law, even if it’s highly offensive. But if someone repeatedly targets you with bullying after you’ve asked them to stop, it might be illegal.
Cyberbullying might be illegal when it involves:
If you’re being bullied, you have a few options depending on the severity of the behavior. Take these initial steps to try to prevent ongoing behavior and build a case for legal remedies if you need them:
But you don’t have to handle it alone. If you need help with bullying, you should reach out to someone you trust. There’s no shame in asking for help, even if you’re not sure whether you’re being bullied.
When your kids are young, you can use platform-enabled parental controls to monitor how they use social media. However, depending on the platform and your location, these controls may disappear after they turn 18. This can make it more difficult to notice cyberbullying.
Protecting your kids from cyberbullying starts with letting them know it’s okay to talk and help is available.
You can also learn more about ways to stop cyberbullying on social media before it gets worse.
Many states require schools to take action to address cyberbullying, even if the bullying happens outside of school. If your child is being cyberbullied by school peers, you can reach out on their behalf. Teachers and administrators can step in, so it’s a good idea to contact them.
School staff may have specialized anti-bullying training so that they can intervene safely. This also helps build documentation if you need to seek other remedies.
On the other hand, cyberbullying at work should be addressed in accordance with company policies and procedures. Many companies have policies that cover cover harassment, including what to do it if happens to you. Following your company’s policies and procedures are a good first step to dealing with harassment or cyberbullying.
Even if it doesn’t rise to the level of a crime, victims of cyberbullying may be able to sue. Talking to a lawyer is a good step to understanding whether it makes sense to try to take someone to court. If the bullying caused harm, you may be able to get:
Suing someone can be a difficult and lengthy process. It often requires extensive documentation of a pattern of harmful behavior.
Civil cases won't land anyone in jail, but if the bullying is serious enough, they can lead to financial penalties and create an official record of the behavior.
With a LegalShield Legal Plan, you can connect with a lawyer to talk about your situation, including whether you have grounds to file a claim.
In some cases, cyberbullying may rise to the level of a crime. In this case, law enforcement and the local government will be involved.
Depending on the state and how serious the behavior is, penalties for criminal behavior related to cyberbullying may include:
Cyberbullying regulations are handled at the state level, which means there’s no one-size-fits-all law or definition. Most states have laws that compel schools to address cyberbullying.
In some states, it’s easier to seek help from a court to stop a bully from contacting you or your child.
Here are three examples of state-specific regulations:
LegalShield members can talk to a provider lawyer as part of their Legal Plan to understand what actions are available and figure out potential next steps.
You don't have to figure this out alone. A provider law firm can tell you whether you have enough evidence to take legal action, what protections your state offers, or how to get a restraining order against the person harassing you.
Learn how to stop cyberbullying and take the first step toward protecting yourself or your family. Review LegalShield® legal plans to connect with a provider law firm today.
LegalShield® is a trademark of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (“LegalShield”). LegalShield provides this blog as a public service and for general information only. The information made available in this blog is meant to provide general information and is not intended to provide legal advice, render an opinion, or provide a recommendation as to a specific matter. The blog post is not a substitute for competent legal counsel from a licensed professional lawyer in the state or province where your legal issues exist, and you should seek legal counsel for your specific legal matter. All information by authors is accepted in good faith. However, LegalShield makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of such information. The materials contained herein are not regularly updated and may not reflect the most current legal information. No person should either act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything contained on this website. Nothing on this blog is meant to, or does, create an attorney-client relationship with any reader or user. An attorney-client relationship may be formed only after the execution of an engagement letter with an attorney and after that attorney has confirmed that no conflicts of interest exist. Nothing on this website, or information contained or transmitted by this website, is intended to be an advertisement or solicitation. Information contained in the blog may be provided by authors who could be a third-party paid contributor. LegalShield provides access to legal services offered by a network of provider law firms to LegalShield members through membership-based participation. LegalShield is nota law firm, and its officers, employees or sales associates do not directly or indirectly provide legal services, representation, or advice.
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