Which action is recommended to respond to cyberbullying?

• A. Ignore and hope it stops
• B. Protect privacy, report abuse, support the victim, block or mute
• C. Publicly name and shame the bully
• D. Share private messages publicly to warn others

Answer: (B)

When dealing with cyberbullying, the best approach is to protect yourself and others while taking constructive steps to stop the abuse. The recommended action involves four parts: protect privacy, report abuse, support the victim, and block or mute the bully.

Protecting privacy helps prevent further harm by keeping personal information out of reach and adjusting privacy settings to control who can contact you. Reporting abuse uses the platform’s tools and, if needed, school, workplace, or legal channels to address the behavior and remove harmful content. Supporting the victim means offering empathy, listening, and encouraging them to seek help, so they don’t face it alone. Blocking or muting the bully reduces exposure to harassment and signals that such behavior won’t be tolerated.

Choosing this approach avoids escalating the situation. Ignoring the abuse can let it continue, publicly naming and shaming can escalate harm and lead to more conflict or legal issues, and sharing private messages publicly invades privacy and can spread harm further.