Academics · Study Skills

Save it, block it,
tell someone.

When cyberbullying starts, the first moves matter: screenshots before blocking, no replies, a report to the app and an adult who knows. Keep a record of each situation, work through seven response steps and see how urgent it is. Threats and private images go straight to the top, with where to get help.

Record a situationWhat you get

Situations

The worked example is made up: a ninth grader left out of a class group chat, a fake account sharing a photo and a threat in an online game. Saved on this device only; nothing is reported anywhere for you.

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What you get

Academics · Study SkillsFree

What you finish with
A record per situation: when it started, who it is happening to, age, where online, what kind, who is doing it, whether it is still happening and whether anyone may be in danger, seven response steps and notes. Works out days since it started, steps done out of those that apply and urgency; flags danger with 988 and 911, threats, private images with NCMEC’s Take It Down, a classmate with no school report and harassment continuing after a report.
Who it is for
Students in grades 5 to 12, their parents and the teachers and counselors they go to.
Format
Browser guide with a saved record per situation. Prints one situation with its steps (to bring to the school), every situation in a table or a blank record; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Study Skills space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Check that everyone is safe first.
  2. Screenshot before you block.
  3. Do not reply.
  4. Report it in the app.
  5. Tell an adult, and the school if a classmate is involved.

Record a situation

Respond in this order

Respond in this order1Make sure everyone is safeDanger or talk of self-harm:988 or 911 first.2Save the evidenceScreenshots with date, timeand account name.3Do not replyNo answers, no getting back atthem.4Block and reportIn the app, game or site.5Tell someoneA trusted adult; the school ifa classmate is involved.6Police when it is seriousThreats, stalking, extortionor sexual images.Respond in this order1Make sure everyone is safeDanger or talk of self-harm: 988 or 911first.2Save the evidenceScreenshots with date, time and accountname.3Do not replyNo answers, no getting back at them.4Block and reportIn the app, game or site.5Tell someoneA trusted adult; the school if aclassmate is involved.6Police when it is seriousThreats, stalking, extortion or sexualimages.
Saving evidence comes before blocking, because blocking can hide the messages you need to show.

When it is more than bullying

Threats of violence, stalking, demands for money or images, and sexual images of anyone under 18 can be crimes. Contact local police. For images of someone under 18, NCMEC’s Take It Down service helps remove them from participating platforms, and the CyberTipline takes reports.

For parents

Stay calm and listen first; taking the phone away often makes children stop telling adults. Work out the steps together, and keep the record so the school sees facts, dates and screenshots.

Sources

  1. StopBullying.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Cyberbullying: how to prevent it and how to report it.
  2. Hinduja, S. and Patchin, J. W. Cyberbullying Research Center (cyberbullying.org): response tips for teens and parents.
  3. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Take It Down (takeitdown.ncmec.org) and CyberTipline (report.cybertip.org).
  4. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org).

The worked example is made up. This page helps you organize a response; it is not legal advice or a crisis service. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.