Someone makes a fake account with your photo and uses it to post mean “jokes” about your classmates. Everyone thinks it is you. Another person screenshots a silly photo of you and shares it in five group chats. Is that “just a joke”, or is it something more serious?
In this post:
- What cyberbullying is, and the forms it takes
- Why it can hurt so much
- What to do if it happens to you or someone you know
- Where to get help in Trinidad and Tobago
- Two activities and a quiz
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is using phones, computers, apps or games to hurt, threaten, embarrass or leave out another person on purpose. It usually happens again and again. It can take place in text messages, group chats, social media, emails, comments, video calls and online games.
Image source: File:Against Cyberbullying.png (Wikimedia Commons)
Forms of cyberbullying
| Form | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Harassment and threats | Sending nasty or scary messages again and again, by text, email or direct message. |
| Shaming and humiliating | Posting or sharing embarrassing photos, videos or screenshots to make someone look bad. |
| Impersonation | Making a fake account, or getting into someone’s account, and posting as them. |
| Spreading rumours | Posting lies or gossip about someone. |
| Abusive comments | Insulting someone because of their looks, weight, race, religion, family or how much money they have. |
| Leaving people out | Deliberately removing or blocking someone from a group chat or game to hurt them. |
Why it hurts so much
- It can happen anytime. At home, at night and on weekends: there is no safe place to escape to.
- It can be anonymous. The person being bullied may not know who is doing it.
- Lots of people can see it, very quickly.
- It is hard to erase. Even deleted posts may have been screenshotted.
People who are cyberbullied may feel sad, scared, angry, ashamed or alone. They may lose confidence, have trouble sleeping, stop wanting to go to school, and find their schoolwork suffers. People who cyberbully can face serious consequences too: school discipline, losing their accounts and, in serious cases, trouble with the police.
Watch: what is cyberbullying?
This short video explains what cyberbullying is and how to stand up to it. Listen for one thing you can do if you see it happening to someone else.
Video: What Is Cyberbullying? – Common Sense Education – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFcVyNz60a8
What to do if it happens to you
These tips are summarised in our own words from the article “Cyberbullying: Dealing with Online Bullies” on HelpGuide.org, which has more advice for young people and parents.
- Don’t reply and don’t hit back. Bullies want a reaction. Replying angrily can make things worse, and could get you into trouble too.
- Save the evidence. Take screenshots that show the messages, the names and the dates before anything is deleted.
- Block and report. Block the person, and use the app’s report button. Most apps remove bullying content.
- Tell a trusted adult: a parent, teacher, guidance counsellor or relative. You do not have to deal with it alone.
- Take a break. Log off, mute the chat or spend time on things you enjoy, with people who treat you well.
- Remember: it is not your fault. Nobody deserves to be bullied.
If you see it happening to someone else
- Don’t like, share or laugh at the post: that spreads it further.
- Send the person a kind private message: “That wasn’t OK. Are you alright?”
- Report the post, and tell an adult.
Helping to stop it
- Treat others online the way you want to be treated (remember netiquette!).
- Think before you post or forward anything about someone else.
- Keep your passwords private so nobody can pretend to be you.
- Use privacy settings so only people you know can contact you.
Where to get help in Trinidad and Tobago
| Who | Number | When |
|---|---|---|
| ChildLine | 131 or 800-4321 (free, any time) | To talk to someone about anything that is worrying you |
| Children’s Authority | 996 or 800-2014 (free, 24/7) | If a child is being harmed or is in danger |
| Police | 999 | If someone threatens to hurt you, or you are in danger right now |
Activity: is it cyberbullying?
Try it: sort the situations
Drag each situation into the right box (or tap the card, then tap the box).
Cyberbullying ✘
Not cyberbullying ✔
Activity: what should they do?
Try it: choose the best action
For each situation, choose the best thing to do.
| Kerry gets a nasty message from an account she does not know. | |
| Someone keeps posting lies about Dev, and he wants to show his teacher. | |
| Aaliyah sees a classmate being mocked in a group chat. | |
| Marcus is getting messages that threaten to hurt him. | |
| Priya feels really upset after reading mean comments. |
Self-check quiz
Click the best answer. You get feedback straight away; only your first click counts towards your score.
1. What is cyberbullying?
2. Making a fake account to post as someone else is called…
3. Why can cyberbullying feel worse than bullying in person?
4. What should you do FIRST if you get a bullying message?
5. You see a mean post about a classmate. What is the best response?
6. Which free helpline can young people in Trinidad and Tobago call to talk?
Related posts on islandclass.org
There is no older Form 1 post on this topic yet, so this is the main lesson.
For later, in Forms 4–5 (CSEC IT): these go deeper and are for when you reach CSEC Information Technology.
Next: Software Licences Explained
Syllabus link: Forms 1–3 ICT curriculum, Module 6, Objective 6.3 – discuss cyberbullying, its impact on students and ways of preventing its occurrence.
Attributions to media used in this post:
- Against Cyberbullying.png – .i.s.b.e.i.g.e. – CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Video: What Is Cyberbullying? – Common Sense Education (YouTube)
- Tips summarised from: Cyberbullying: Dealing with Online Bullies – Lawrence Robinson – HelpGuide.org
Updates
2026/10/21
– Fixed the activity code so its buttons keep working.
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.