Online Harassment or Cyberbullying
Repeated threatening, humiliating, or abusive behaviour directed at you online.
What this generally means
Persistent online harassment, including threats and non-consensual sharing of images, is punishable under both the IT Act and criminal law.
Your journey
You Are Here
You're trying to understand what to do about cyberbullying. That's a good first step.
Understand Issue
Read through what this situation generally means and what your options are.
Gather Documents
Collect the evidence and paperwork that will support your case.
Contact Resource
Reach out to the most relevant authority, helpline, or legal aid service.
Escalate If Needed
If the first contact doesn't resolve things, escalate to a higher forum or authority.
Follow Up
Track your complaint's status and keep records of every response you receive.
Common next steps
- 1Do not respond to the harasser — save all evidence instead.
- 2Block the person and report their account to the platform.
- 3File a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
- 4Reach out to a support helpline if the harassment is affecting your wellbeing.
Useful documents
- Screenshots of all messages/posts
- Usernames/profile links of the harasser
- Timestamps of incidents
Relevant authorities
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
- State Cyber Crime Cell
Frequently asked questions
What if the harasser is anonymous?+
Police cyber cells can often trace anonymous accounts through platform cooperation once a formal complaint is filed.
Should I delete the harassing messages?+
No — save and screenshot everything first. Deleting removes evidence you'll need for your complaint.
Verified resources
Local Support for Online Harassment
Illustrative example only — this is not a specific real organization or verified number. For cyberstalking, doxxing, or image-based abuse, report via cybercrime.gov.in (1930) and the Women Helpline (181).
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
I4C (Ministry of Home Affairs) portal to report all types of cybercrime, especially crimes against women and children. Supported by the 1930 helpline.
KIRAN Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline
24x7 toll-free national helpline (13 languages) offering emotional support and crisis counselling, run by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.