If you discovered a friend being bullied on the Internet, what would you do?

• A. Stay silent
• B. Tell an adult counselor to use proper channels
• C. Tell the friend to ignore it
• D. Respond with harassment

Answer: (B)

When you see online bullying, involving someone who can take formal steps and keep people safe is the strongest move. Telling an adult counselor to use proper channels matters because they understand how to navigate school or community policies, contact the right authorities, and coordinate with parents or guardians. They can file reports with the platform, monitor the situation, and connect your friend with support resources. This approach stops the abuse in a responsible way and protects everyone’s privacy and well-being.

Staying silent lets the bullying continue and can leave your friend feeling unsupported. Telling the friend to ignore it puts the burden on them and doesn’t address the behavior. Responding with harassment back is harmful and can backfire, potentially causing more harm and getting you into trouble.

If you’re unsure what to do, start by talking to a trusted adult about what you’ve observed, document the incidents with screenshots, and use the platform’s reporting tools, all while offering your friend support.