Bullying, of course, is nothing new. However, the fact that many children and young people now own a mobile phone has given rise to a new form of bullying; one which can take place 24/7 and even intrude into your home or personal space, where you would otherwise be safe from harassment.

Roughly one in seven or 14% of young people have been threatened or harassed by mobile phone - either by someone they know or anonymously. The type of bullying can be anything from name calling or text messages threatening violence, through to images or video clips intended to frighten or intimidate. You may have seen reports on the TV, in a newspaper, or on the Internet, of so-called "happy slapping attacks", where acts of violence against young people or adults are recorded and shared using mobile phones. In some cases, young people can be frightened to go to school in the first place, or frightened to leave or go into the playground because of the messages or images they have received from bullies. The bottom line on mobile phone bullying, however, is that - like any other forms of bullying - it is unacceptable, very often illegal and there are ways to stop it. For good.

1. The easiest way - but it's not always that easy - to combat mobile phone bullying is to take all the steps you can to avoid it in the first place. If you witness mobile phone bullying, or are aware of it going on at school or outside, then report it to a teacher or your anti-bullying coordinator. You'd probably like your friends to do the same for you in a similar situation, and standing idly by increases your chances of being the bully's next victim.


2. Never leave your mobile phone unattended and only give your mobile phone number to members of your family, or friends that you trust. It's not uncommon for a former friend, with whom you've fallen out for whatever reason, to become a bully or pass your number on to someone you really wouldn't want to have it.


3. If you call or send text messages or images to other mobile phone users, be respectful in what you say and careful with the images that you send. Whatever you send can be made public or may pass into the possession of bullies very quickly indeed, so do not divulge anything that could be used to be embarrass or intimidate you in the future. This also applies to images or video clips of yourself. Don't be coerced into doing anything stupid that could be recorded on someone else's mobile phone. Tell a trusted adult if someone has taken a photograph or video clip of you against your wishes - even the most innocent image is easily to manipulate into something more sinister - and don't send images to anyone you don't trust.


4. If you do experience mobile phone bullying, either verbally, by text message or by a bully sending you an image of some kind, it is important that you do not attempt to retaliate or even reply at all. Bullies "get their kicks", if you like, from the power and control they exert over others and they seek to confirm that power by provoking you into a response. If you refuse to be provoked and do not respond at all, you deny the bully the sense of satisfaction that he or she is seeking.


5. This does not mean that you should ignore mobile phone bullying completely: quite the contrary. In fact you should never ignore any form of threat or harassment. You should remind yourself that it is the bully, alone, who is at fault - however dearly he or she wants you to believe otherwise. There are numerous strategies and people that you can turn to. You should involve your parents, or one or more trusted adults - relatives, carers, teachers, doctors, etc., are all there to help. You should inform them immediately because (i) they need to be aware of the problem right from the start, and (ii) they can help you to develop your strategies against the bully. Don't think of this as being a "wimp" or a "grass" -- quite the contrary: it often takes greater courage to do something positive about the problem and you are helping to protect others from the same individual by doing so.You may need an adult to speak to your mobile phone provider, your head teacher, or even the police, as part of your strategy.


6. Keep a diary of what is happening to you -- when and how -- and learn how to save the evidence: offending messages, images, etc. - which may be vital when a bully is finally caught and punished.


7. One of the easiest ways of stopping mobile phone bullying, of course, is to change your mobile phone number altogether - a trusted adult can arrange this with your mobile phone provider - but it is also straightforward for a mobile phone provider to trace the identity of anyone sending threatening or abusive text messages. There are any number of competitive mobile phone deals available from many different providers, so even changing mobile phone provider should not be too much hassle.


8. The Education and Inspections Act 2006 grants head teachers the power to regulate the conduct of pupils, even when they are not on school premises, to an extent that is "reasonable", in the eyes of the law. This may include the confiscation of mobile phones known to be used for mobile phone bullying.


9. If all else fails, however, you and your trusted adult(s) may need to contact the local police. Making abusive or threatening phone calls, or sending text messages or images deliberately intended to cause harassment or anxiety is illegal and is punishable by a fine or, in the worst cases, a prison sentence.

If you want to talk to somebody in confidence about your own mobile phone bullying experiences, you can call ChildLine, on 0800 1111, or if you want further practical advice - for young people and their parents - on how to avoid mobile phone bullying, and how to deal with it when it does occur, websites such as Bullying UK, can be valuable sources of information.

If you need help from Bullying UK email us here