While bullying has always existed, cyberbullying is uniquely relentless and now a near-universal part of teen life. It can happen anonymously, spread instantly and follow kids everywhere they go.
Today’s abuse ranges from rumor-spreading and harassment to threats, doxxing and the sharing of explicit images. If you’re raising teens, the odds are high that they’ve seen – or experienced – this firsthand. In fact, nearly one-third of U.S. teens1 and one-quarter of Canadian teens2 say they were bullied online in the past year – twice the rate of a decade ago.
And now the rise of convincing images generated by artificial intelligence (AI) has opened the door to reputational harm on an entirely new scale — particularly for older teen girls, who already face disproportionately high levels of online harassment.3
And yet, most of it happens in silence. Nearly 90% of teens never tell their parents they’re being cyberbullied.4 That secrecy makes the problem harder to detect — and harder to stop.
The effects are far from digital. Teens who experience cyberbullying often suffer from anxiety-related symptoms such as sleep disruption, recurrent abdominal pain and frequent headaches. They are also more likely to have depression or suicidal thoughts.5
Helping your kids build resilience
Protecting your children starts long before a crisis. Open dialogue, clear expectations and smart boundaries can dramatically reduce the impact of online harassment. Consider the following best practices6:
- Set age-appropriate limits on devices, platforms and screen time.
- Regularly review privacy and security settings — and reset them when needed.
- Know your child’s usernames and passwords for all social accounts.
- Monitor social media activity if you suspect a problem.
- Talk often about what they’re seeing online, how it makes them feel and what “safe behavior” looks like.
- Stay current with the latest apps, new social media platforms and the digital slang they use to communicate.
- Report cyberbullying to authorities and online platforms when it occurs.
It’s most important to keep the conversation open and be sure they understand that they can come to you with any questions or concerns about the content they are seeing. Teens are far more likely to ask for help when they know judgment isn’t waiting on the other side. Also, look for teachable moments to discuss what is and isn’t acceptable online behavior and how to stay safe in that space.
How to respond when cyberbullying happens
Even the most vigilant parents may miss the signs at first. If your child becomes unusually withdrawn, anxious or secretive online, it may be time to take a closer look.
In more serious cases, stronger intervention may be necessary:
- Engage the school. Teachers and administrators can help discipline perpetrators and support victims.
- Escalate when safety is at risk. Threats of violence may require involving school officials, the bully’s parents and, in some cases, law enforcement.
- Seek legal guidance. If defamation, stalking or explicit images are involved, legal advice can help protect your child’s rights.
- Use digital forensics when needed. Specialists can help remove harmful or explicit images from the internet.
Cyberbullying can also come with financial burdens, from therapy to tutoring to relocation in severe cases. Some personal cyber insurance policies cover counseling costs, private education support, content removal and crisis services.
HUB Private Client can connect you with carefully vetted professionals who specialize in helping families navigate complex cyberbullying situations.
To learn more about protecting your family from online risks, contact your HUB Private Client Advisor.
1 Cyberbullying Research Center, “Summary of Our Cyberbullying Research (2007-2025),” accessed October 27, 2025.
2 Statistics Canada, “One in four Canadian youth report experiencing at least one form of cybervictimization,” November 16, 2023.
3 Pew Research Center, “Teens and Cyberbullying 2022,” December 15, 2022.
4 Lucy Faithfull Foundation, “How to keep children safe,” accessed November 14, 2025.
5 Arbour Hospital, “Cyberbullying, Teens & Mental Health,” accessed October 27, 2025.
6 Stopbullying.gov, “Digital Awareness for Parents,” November 29, 2024.
