Group chats can turn on a child in minutes, and the messages follow them home. How you respond in the first hour shapes whether they come to you next time.

Published October 2026 · Last reviewed: October 18, 2026

In Pew Research Center’s 2022 survey, 46% of U.S. teens said they had experienced at least one form of cyberbullying. Name-calling was the most common, followed by false rumors. Group chats on messaging apps, social media, and gaming platforms make it worse: a dozen classmates can join in, and screenshots spread past the original group.

What to know

Kids often hide online bullying because they fear losing their phone. If the first reaction is to take the device away, many will not tell you next time. Treat the report as a sign of trust.

Group-chat bullying can include name-calling, exclusion (removing someone or starting a new chat without them), sharing private photos or screenshots, impersonation, and threats. Some of it breaks platform rules. Some of it may break the law.

What parents can do

1. Listen first. Ask what happened, who was involved, and how long it has been going on. Ask how your child feels and what they want to happen.
2. Do not respond. Replies, even calm ones, usually escalate. Do not message the other children or post about it.
3. Save the evidence. Screenshot each message with the sender’s name and the time visible. Save them somewhere other than the child’s phone, such as your email.
4. Block and report. Use the app’s report tool on the specific messages and accounts, then block. StopBullying.gov links to reporting pages for the major platforms.
5. Leave the chat. Your child does not have to stay in a group where they are being targeted.
6. Contact the school if classmates are involved. Many states require schools to address cyberbullying, and some cover off-campus behavior that affects school. Bring your screenshots and ask what happens next.
7. Follow up. Check in over the next several days. Bullying that moves to a new chat or app is common.

Talk about it

• “You will not lose your phone for telling me something bad happened to you.”
• “What would help most right now: me stepping in, or helping you handle it?”
• “If you see someone else being picked on in a chat, you can screenshot it and tell an adult, or message them privately so they know they are not alone.”

Also talk about the other side. Ask how your child would handle being added to a chat that targets someone else, and what they would do if friends were joining in.

When to get more help

Contact law enforcement if the messages include threats of violence, sexual images of a minor, photos or video taken where someone expected privacy, stalking, or hate crimes. If your child seems withdrawn, stops eating or sleeping well, or talks about hurting themselves, talk to their doctor or a counselor. If they are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Sources and further reading

• StopBullying.gov: Report Cyberbullying
• Pew Research Center: Teens and Cyberbullying 2022
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline