Being bullied or harassed online is real harm, even though it happens on a screen. You do not have to put up with it, and you do not have to face it alone.
In 2025, two in three adults online had come across at least one potential harm in the past four weeks. Scams and false information were the most common. About one in five had seen trolling.
This page is for adults. If you are under 18, the under-18s section is for you.
Source: Ofcom: online nation 2025
What it can look like
It might come from one person or from many at once. It might be a stranger, an ex, a neighbour or someone at work.
- Messages or comments that keep coming after you have asked them to stop
- Posts, rumours or edited photos that spread things about you
- Threats against you, or against people you care about
- Fake accounts in your name, or accounts set up to watch you
- Intimate images shared without your consent, or a threat to share them
- Sexual images sent to you that you did not ask for
- Abuse aimed at who you are, such as your race, faith, disability, sexuality or gender
How it can leave you feeling
Online, it can follow you everywhere. Your phone sits in your pocket, beside your bed and on your desk at work.
The Mental Health Foundation says cyberbullying can affect anyone. It can bring anxiety, shame, loneliness and trouble trusting others. For some people, it brings thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
None of this means you are too sensitive. The problem is what someone did to you, not how you reacted.
Source: MHF: cyberbullying
What the law says
Some online bullying and harassment is a crime. We can name the laws, but we cannot tell you whether what happened to you breaks one.
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 makes harassment a crime in England and Wales. The police say unwanted behaviour that happens twice or more may count.
On 31 January 2024, the Online Safety Act 2023 added new crimes in England and Wales, including these:
- False communications: sending a message you know is false, meant to cause more than trivial harm
- Threatening communications: sending a threat of death or serious harm
- Cyberflashing: sending an image of genitals to alarm, distress or humiliate someone, or for sexual gratification
- Sharing intimate images: sharing, or threatening to share, an intimate photo or film without consent
False and threatening communications also apply in Northern Ireland. Scotland and Northern Ireland have other laws of their own.
The police can look into whether it may be a crime. Victim Support can talk it through with you.
Sources: UK Parliament: Harassment Act 1997, Police.uk: stalking harassment, UK Government: OSA commencement 2024, UK Parliament: OSA offences 2023
Who can help
Threats of violence are a police matter.
Tell the police about harassment, threats or online abuse that is not an emergency, by phone or online.
Victim Support covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own services.
England 
Wales Free support after a crime, by phone or live chat.
Support is for people in England and Wales only.
Scotland Free support after a crime from the Scottish charity.
Northern Ireland Support after a crime from the Northern Ireland charity.
An office line, not a helpline.
The National Bullying Helpline gives advice on bullying at work, at school or online.
Confidential advice on bullying at work, at school or online.
If someone has shared intimate images of you, or threatens to, the Revenge Porn Helpline can help.
Help reporting and removing intimate images shared without consent, and support if someone threatens to share them.
Closed on bank holidays.
Most platforms let you report abuse. If a platform does not act on content that breaks its rules, Report Harmful Content can help.
Help with harmful content that a platform has not removed after your report.
Report to the platform first. If you think it is a crime, tell the police too.
What talking can help with
A professional will not replace the police or the platforms. They can help with what the bullying has left behind.
- The jolt of fear each time your phone lights up
- Sleep, confidence or trust that took a knock
- Going back online, or deciding not to, on your own terms
- Working out what you want to do next, at your own pace
If it has left you with anxiety, sleep problems or low self-esteem, those pages say more.
If it has left you thinking about suicide, our crisis page lists people who will listen, day or night.
Thanks for your interest. We're not taking on new clients at the moment.
Ready to talk about what it has left behind?
We ask what matters to you, then find professionals who fit.
- Someone keeps messaging me after I asked them to stop
- People are posting things about me and I cannot make it stop
- It started at work and now it follows me home on my phone
- It has stopped, but I still jump every time my phone buzzes
References
- Ofcom (2025). Online Nation 2025. Link
- Mental Health Foundation (2026). Cyberbullying and online abuse. Link
- UK Parliament (1997). Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Link
- Police.uk (2026). What is stalking or harassment?. Link
- UK Government (2024). The Online Safety Act 2023 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2024. Link
- UK Parliament (2023). Online Safety Act 2023, Part 10: communications offences. Link
