What to do if your child is being harassed online
When a child faces harassment online, the situation can escalate quickly and cause serious harm. What may begin as a single post or message often develops into repeated targeting, group hostility and sustained intimidation. This is particularly common in school and college settings where social media forms part of everyday life. This article reflects the issues families bring to us and the practical steps that tend to bring matters under control.
How to first approach child harassment on social media
False sexual allegations as a form of harassment
Serious allegations against a boy leading to harassment at school
When does online behaviour become harassment or bullying
Handling your child’s harassment from false allegations
Legal advice for child harassment
How to first approach child harassment on social media
We regularly advise parents whose children have found themselves at the centre of online hostility. Certain patterns appear time and again. Early action makes a real difference. Clear evidence, firm engagement with the school and, where needed, legal intervention can prevent a difficult situation from spiralling further. We can tell you exactly what yo do if your child is being harassed online
If your child is being targeted online by other pupils, consider reporting the issue to the school or college without delay. Most online harassment between children links directly back to the school environment, even when it takes place outside school hours.
Schools sometimes try to wash their hands of the matter, especially if the harassing posts had been posted outside the school’s gates. Parents are often told it is a private matter or part of normal teenage behaviour or that that matter is outside the school’s jurisdiction. Yet repeated hostile messages, group chats designed to mock one pupil, or posts encouraging others to exclude or shame a child are safeguarding concerns, even if technically some of the posts had been posted outside school hours or not in school’s premises.
Before making any complaint, gather and preserve evidence. Take screenshots showing usernames, dates and full conversations. Keep a written timeline of events. When parents approach schools with organised evidence, discussions tend to be more focused and productive. If a school fails to act appropriately or does not follow its own safeguarding and anti bullying policies, parents should not give up or make life too easy for the school.
False sexual allegations as a form of harassment
One of the most distressing forms of child harassment involves false allegations of sexual assault/being falsely accused of rape, posted on social media. These cases often arise after the breakdown of teenage relationships or friendship groups. Minor incidents can become exaggerated online.
Once shared publicly, the impact fabricated allegations can have on a young person can be immediate and severe. Other pupils may take sides. A false accusation of rape on social media can attract comments and reactions. Group chats form. The accused child may face isolation, threats and intimidation, sometimes extending into the school day.
We have witnessed too many cases where this turned into physical assault and serious bodily harm. In cases involving a boy and a girl, an additional difficulty often arises. Schools can feel strong pressure to respond firmly where a girl makes an allegation against a boy. In practice, this sometimes results in the school appearing to accept the allegation at face value before fully examining the boy’s account.
Many parents describe a sense that conclusions have been reached by the school before a proper investigation has taken place. As parents, they know there is always another side to a story. However, schools operate in an environment that rightly places importance on supporting those who raise concerns. This can create a perception of assumed guilt on the part of the boy.
Schools face pressure from both families. They must respond to concerns raised by the girl’s parents while also safeguarding the rights of the boy. The majority of teaching staff are female, and in sensitive cases this can contribute to a dynamic where the boy’s parents feel that the school’s starting position is not neutral.
Whether that perception is justified in every case or not, it is a concern that arises repeatedly. For a young boy, being treated as though he is responsible before any findings are made can be deeply damaging. The emotional strain can be significant, particularly where allegations circulate online and develop into a broader pattern of harassment.
Serious allegations against a boy leading to harassment at school
Where allegations are serious, some parents choose to report the matter to the police themselves. This is not an admission of wrongdoing. It can be a protective step. If there is a sustained pattern of false accusations or online hostility, reporting the matter as harassment ensures that an independent authority examines the situation properly.
In a number of cases, police investigations have ended without sufficient evidence to proceed in relation to the original allegations against the boy. In some instances, evidence has indicated that complaints arose from personal conflict or revenge rather than genuine wrongdoing by the boy.
These matters are complex, and require careful handling to protect a child’s welfare, education and future prospects. Strategic advice at an early stage helps parents engage with schools in a measured way while safeguarding their child’s legal position.
When does online behaviour become harassment or bullying
Online harassment involves a course of conduct that causes alarm, distress or humiliation. It may include false accusations of sexual assault from social media, but it also covers repeated insults, threats, sharing private information, creating fake profiles, or encouraging others to target a child.
Parents often describe the situation as gossip or drama at first. When messages, posts and interactions are reviewed together, a clearer pattern usually emerges. The behaviour tends to be repeated and directed at one individual, sometimes over weeks or months before the parents become aware of the gravity of the situation.
The impact on children can be serious. Some refuse to attend school. Others withdraw socially or show signs of anxiety and low mood. In more serious cases, online hostility spills into physical confrontation. Schools have a duty to safeguard pupils from bullying, including online harassment. If they fail to follow their own anti bullying or safeguarding policies, that failure may itself require formal challenge.
Handling your child’s harassment from false allegations
If your child faces harassment linked to false allegations, approach the matter calmly and methodically. Report the issue to the school clearly as bullying and harassment. Refer to specific sections of their safeguarding and anti bullying policies. Ask what immediate steps they will take to ensure your child feels safe and supported. Consider reporting the matter to the police where there is a clear pattern of threatening or intimidating behaviour or where you child is falsely accused of serious wrongdoing.
Specialist social media legal advice for parents allows you to assess proportionate responses. These may include formal legal correspondence requiring harmful content to be removed, warnings about harassment law, or in serious cases, civil action, reminding schools of their obligations towards your child, prompting the school to take action and ensuring a fair and productive process.
The aim is to bring the conduct to an end while protecting your child’s position and ultimately allowing the child and the entire family to move on as quickly as possible from this difficult situation. Where false sexual allegations have been posted publicly, avoid getting into public arguments and take legal advice. You are likely to achieve better outcomes if you hold structured conversations with the school and take clear, considered legal advice where necessary.
Legal advice for child harassment
When your child is being harassed online, emotions naturally run high. Parents want to protect and defend. However, direct confrontation can sometimes complicate matters. A solicitor experienced in online harassment involving children is likely to provide the parents and the child with clear and practical guidance.
We assist families in understanding their options, assessing risk and deciding on the most effective course of action. For many young people, knowing that adults are taking firm and informed steps restores a sense of stability and reassurance. Early intervention often shortens the lifespan of online harassment. A carefully drafted letter, formal engagement with the school, or a clear warning about legal consequences can shift the situation quickly.
Every case depends on its own facts. What remains consistent is the importance of acting promptly, preserving evidence and seeking specialist advice from lawyers who understand harassment law, internet disputes and the realities of school environments. Book your initial consultation now!