Welcome to our Daily Advice programme. Our today’s expert is Mr Jones who specialises in helping teenagers protect themselves from cyberbullying. He also knows a lot about how to deal with cyberbullies and where to get help. Mr Jones, what is the first thing you would advise our listeners if they face a cyberbully?

Tell them it’s not OK. Sometimes, we all feel evasive and, when facing an unpleasant person both in real life and online, we walk away. But if it’s safe, you will do well to take a stand against it and ask the people bullying to stop. Let them know that what they’re doing is unacceptable. You will be surprised how many of them may actually back off. You may also find that the whole problem was a misunderstanding. If this is the case, a polite conversation can resolve the problem.

It’s great when this kind of conversation helps, but what should we to do if cyberbullying doesn’t stop?

If you come across a person whose intention is to cause harm or humiliation, or they threaten to reveal some sensitive or private information, seek help from a trusted adult. The best person to talk to will usually be one of your parents. There are also specialised helplines which offer support in more complex or risky situations. Their advantage is the possibility to stay anonymous, so many people who are too embarrassed to speak to their family chose to use those.

Is there anything we can do with the abusive post or image in the meantime?

Most social media are very supportive in protecting their users from harm online. Their reputation suffers from instances of cyberbullying as much as yours, so they will usually go to great lengths when you face this problem. Report the post or image and await their response. They may block a hateful post, or at least clarify the intentions of the person who has published it. They may also permanently ban a user in cases of more serious or repeated bullying.

All social media providers should react to complaints about cyberbullying. But what should we do if we get ignored or aren’t taken seriously enough?

If that happens, don’t worry - you are still not alone. In every country, there are specialised authorities or agencies where you can complain about a social media provider who tolerates cyberbullying. File a report with them if the post or image doesn’t get removed. You can usually find their contact details easily on the Internet.

Is there anything else we should do?

When you are making a complaint to the social media provider or the authorities, remember to keep evidence. Take some screenshots of the harmful content or make recordings of audio messages and keep them for further reference or legal action. You will be able to present them to support your case.

OK, so there are many ways to deal with a specific hurtful post or image. But cyberbullies may find other ways to bother us. What should we do then?

Some people never learn, so you may get the same person to bother or threaten you on many social media platforms or under different nicknames and profiles. You can always block and report that person. If you do, they will stop being able to send you messages, comment on your posts, or view your personal details.

This is great, Mr Jones. Do these actions usually stop a bully or have you had cases when more serious steps had to be taken?

I remember some cases of cyberbullying that had to be reported to the police. They were mostly connected with threats of violence or revealing people’s sensitive information, such as bank details. If you face any of those, remember that these are criminal acts banned by law. Get help from the police if needed.

Thank you, Mr Jones. I’m sure our listeners will really appreciate this practical guidance on how to deal with cyberbullying. Is there anything else you would like to say before we end?

As dull as it may sound, the world of social media isn’t your real life. If your experience on the Internet becomes uncomfortable, consider switching off for a while. Do something else you enjoy: go out with friends, do some sports or read a book. You will have a great time and you won’t need the internet to do it!