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The Real Impact, the Law, and Building Resilience

The Impact Is Real

• 60% of 11-16 year olds have experienced it
• 2-9x more likely to consider suicide
• Depression, anxiety, school avoidance
• 'It's just online' is a dangerous myth

Platform Architecture and Harm

• Notifications amplify the experience of being targeted
• Public comments make humiliation visible to everyone
• Virality can turn one incident into mass harassment
• OSA 2023: platforms must now address this — or face Ofcom fines

What the Law Says

• Sending threatening messages: criminal offence
• Persistent harassment: Protection from Harassment Act
• Sharing intimate images without consent: up to 2 years prison
• Platforms have legal duties — use the report tools

Building Resilience

• You don't have to respond — silence is powerful
• Screenshot and report — to the platform and to an adult
• Disconnect safely: it's okay to step away
• Talk to someone — 30% report; the other 70% suffer alone

Getting Help

• 🏫 School: DSL, form tutor, anti-bullying lead
• 📞 Childline: 0800 1111
• 🌐 ditchthelabel.org
• 🌐 cybersmile.org

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Tell someone. Report it. It can stop.