What’s the difference between conflict and cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is deliberate, repeated and involves a power imbalance. A one-off argument between equals is conflict — still worth guidance, but handled differently. When in doubt, document it and watch for repetition.

Can the school act on bullying that happens outside school hours?

Yes — Australian school policies generally cover online behaviour between students wherever it occurs, because the impact lands in the classroom. Bring your evidence.

Cyberbullying: prevention and response

4 min readReviewed October 2026 · Internet Safety Australia Editorial Team

In short

Cyberbullying = repeated, deliberate harm via digital tech — and it’s covered by an Australian law with teeth.
Evidence first (screenshots), then platform report, then eSafety after 48 hours.
Your child’s wellbeing is the priority throughout — Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.

One in five Australian young people reports being cyberbullied. It ranges from nasty group-chat pile-ons to sustained, serious harassment — and the Online Safety Act 2021 gives the eSafety Commissioner power to order seriously harmful material targeting a child removed, fast.

Lowering the risk

Private accounts and known-follower lists limit the attack surface.
Talk early and often about what cyberbullying looks like — including being a bystander, and not forwarding.
Agree that telling you never costs them their phone. Fear of device confiscation is the main reason kids stay silent.

If it happens

Follow the full playbook: support first, evidence, platform report, eSafety, school, support services. It’s written for the moment you need it: My child is being bullied online.

Common questions

Where to report this

Report to eSafety

Cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse, and illegal or restricted online content.

Go to eSafety

Official sources for this guide

Reviewed October 2026 by Internet Safety Australia Editorial Team. Internet Safety Australia is independent and not a government website.