Stop text bully: Stop text bully: What if I’m still getting text bullied?

Here’s some more things you could do if you’re still getting bullied through your mobile phone or PC:

If the bullying is through your mobile, tell your mobile phone network, or ask an adult you trust to do it. Some companies have special ‘nuisance’ teams who’ll suggest things you can do. Sometimes they’ll work with the police to make it stop. Look up your mobile network here

Mobile networks can trace calls and texts even though it’s difficult sometimes, especially if the bully’s got a pay-as-you-go phone.

If you know the caller’s number or ID, you could try to block it – check your phone’s handbook to see if you can, and ask a trusted adult to help. Mobile networks don’t usually want to bar numbers.

Changing your phone number or getting a new pay-as-you-go SIM card is a pain – but it will stop text bullies! You should be able to do this for free, although the mobile network might want to ask some questions first. (Tesco Mobile and T-Mobile say they’ll give you a new number for free straight away.) You can always get an adult to ring up for you.

If the bullying is by email, you or an adult can email a copy to your email service provider – this might be your mobile phone network but it’s probably an internet service provider (ISP). Usually the ISP’s helpdesk address starts with ‘abuse@’ and ends with the ISP’s main address – so Virgin Net’s is abuse@virgin.net. The ISP might want to know the nasty email’s ‘header’ to work out who sent it. Virgin Net’s website tells you how to get the header, but get an adult to help you – www.virgin.net

Check if your email program lets you block or bin messages from certain addresses. Check the ‘Help’ or ‘Tools’ button or ask an adult – like your IT teacher – to help.

If you change your email address, use a cool new nickname or code so a bully won’t know it’s yours. Remember, people might be able to see it when you’re chatting or instant messaging!

If someone keeps posting nasty stuff on a message board or blog, or slagging you off in a chat room or when you’re instant messaging, keep copying it and forwarding it to whoever hosts the board or blog, the chat room ‘moderator’ or the IM service provider. Look for the email address by clicking on ‘Help’.

Try blocking messages from chat ‘friends’ who turn nasty. Go into your contacts list, right-click on that person’s name and click ‘block’ or ‘ignore’.

If you decide to change your mobile number, email address or chat ID, keep it low-profile! Just give it to people you really trust, and tell them not to tell anyone else about it.