Digital Defence Tool kit Reporting Online Abuse in Australia

How do I report online abuse in Australia?

If you are experiencing online abuse, harassment or threatening behaviour, start by collecting evidence before deleting content or blocking the person responsible. Save relevant screenshots, usernames, profile links, URLs, messages, dates and times.

Digital Defence provides a detailed guide to collecting evidence of online abuse(opens in new tab), including instructions for Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.

You can then report the harmful content to the social media platform, website, app or online service where it occurred. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the abuse, you may also be able to report it to the eSafety Commissioner, police, ReportCyber or another relevant Australian authority.

The Digital Defence Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit can help you document what happened, identify possible reporting pathways and keep a record of the actions you have taken.

What should I do if someone is harassing me online?

If someone is repeatedly harassing you online, try to preserve evidence of the behaviour before taking steps that could make the content or account inaccessible.

Record what happened, where it happened, who was involved and when it occurred. This may include screenshots, messages, usernames, account details, URLs and dates.

Follow the Digital Defence Evidence Collection Guide(opens in new tab) for practical, platform-specific instructions on preserving online evidence.

You can then use the Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit to work through your reporting options and determine appropriate next steps.

If the harassment is serious, persistent or threatening, additional reporting options may be available through the eSafety Commissioner or police.

If you believe you or someone else is in immediate danger in Australia, call Triple Zero (000).

What evidence should I collect before reporting online abuse?

Useful evidence may include:

• screenshots of abusive posts, comments or messages;

• the username or account name of the person responsible;

• a link or URL to the content;

• a link to the person's profile;

• the name of the platform, website or app;

• dates and times;

• emails, direct messages or other communications;

• records of previous incidents; and

• report numbers or responses received from platforms or authorities.

Where possible, preserve enough information to show the context of what happened, particularly when the abuse forms part of an ongoing pattern.

For detailed instructions, see Digital Defence's step-by-step guide to collecting evidence of online abuse(opens in new tab).

Be careful when collecting evidence involving illegal or restricted material. In particular, do not save or redistribute sexual images or videos involving anyone under 18.

Should I take screenshots of online harassment before blocking someone?

In many cases, yes. Evidence can disappear after an account is blocked, deleted or suspended, or after a post or message is removed.

Consider taking screenshots and recording usernames, URLs, dates and times before blocking or removing access, provided it is safe and lawful to do so.

Digital Defence's Evidence Collection Guide(opens in new tab) explains how to preserve evidence on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube before it disappears.

Your personal safety should always take priority.

Should I report online abuse to the social media platform first?

Often, yes. For many forms of harmful online content, reporting the content directly to the platform or online service is an important first step and may be the fastest way to have it reviewed or removed.

Before reporting, however, consider preserving the evidence and direct links you may need later.

The Digital Defence Reporting Online Abuse Toolkit provides direct reporting links for Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, together with information about other Australian reporting bodies.

Keep any confirmation emails, screenshots, case numbers or reference numbers you receive when making a report.

When can I report online abuse to the eSafety Commissioner?

Australia's eSafety Commissioner can assist with certain types of serious online harm, including adult cyber abuse, cyberbullying involving children, image-based abuse and some illegal or restricted online content.

Different reporting schemes have different eligibility requirements, so the appropriate reporting pathway will depend on what has happened.

Digital Defence's Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit provides an overview of key Australian reporting bodies and can help you identify possible next steps.

Can I report online threats to the police in Australia?

Yes. If someone has threatened to harm you, your family or another person, or you are frightened for your safety, you should consider contacting police.

Preserve relevant evidence such as screenshots, messages, emails, usernames, URLs, dates and information showing the context or pattern of the behaviour.

Digital Defence provides a guide to collecting and preserving online evidence(opens in new tab) that can help you organise this information before making a report.

The Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit also provides information about reporting pathways including local police, the Australian Federal Police and ReportCyber.

If there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call Triple Zero (000).

What should I do if someone creates a fake social media account pretending to be me?

If someone is impersonating you online, collect evidence of the fake account before reporting it. This may include screenshots, the account username, profile URL, posts or messages and information showing how the account is impersonating you.

Use the Digital Defence Evidence Collection Guide(opens in new tab) to preserve relevant profile information, URLs and other evidence before the account is removed or becomes inaccessible.

You can then use the Digital Defence Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit to find the relevant platform reporting options.

If the impersonation is being used to threaten, harass, defraud or seriously harm you or another person, additional reporting options may also be appropriate.

Can I report anonymous or fake accounts that are abusing me?

Yes. You can report abusive content even when you do not know the real identity of the person behind the account.

Record the account username, profile URL, screenshots, messages, dates, times and any other information that could help demonstrate what has occurred.

Digital Defence's platform-specific evidence collection instructions(opens in new tab) explain what information to capture from social media profiles, posts, comments and direct messages.

Do not assume that an apparently anonymous account means nothing can be done. Report the behaviour through the appropriate platform and consider other reporting pathways where the conduct is serious.

What can I do about online hate or hate speech in Australia?

If you have been personally targeted by online hate because of characteristics such as your race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation, preserve evidence of what occurred before reporting the content.

Start with the Digital Defence Evidence Collection Guide(opens in new tab) to document posts, comments, direct messages, profiles and relevant URLs.

Depending on what occurred and the seriousness of the behaviour, reporting options may include the platform involved, the eSafety Commissioner, police or other relevant Australian bodies.

The Digital Defence Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit can help you work through the available reporting pathways.

What should I do if the platform doesn't remove the abusive content?

Keep a record of your original report, including any reference number, confirmation email or response from the platform.

If the content remains online, consider whether another reporting pathway is available through the eSafety Commissioner, police or another relevant authority.

The Digital Defence Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit can help you identify possible escalation options and keep track of reports, reference numbers and responses.

If you have already reported harmful content and want to share your experience with Digital Defence, you can also contact Digital Defence(opens in new tab).

Can someone else help me report online abuse?

Yes. You may want assistance from a trusted friend, family member, employer, school, community organisation, lawyer or support service.

Having someone help you organise screenshots, URLs, dates, previous reports and other evidence can make the reporting process easier to manage.

You can work through the Digital Defence Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit together to document what happened and identify possible reporting pathways.

If you are unsure what kind of help you need, you can also contact Digital Defence(opens in new tab).

What should I do if my child is being bullied or abused online?

If a child or young person is experiencing cyberbullying or online abuse, preserve relevant evidence and provide them with support.

Evidence can include screenshots, messages, usernames, URLs, dates and information showing what has happened.

The Digital Defence Evidence Collection Guide(opens in new tab) provides practical guidance for documenting harmful content across major social media platforms.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner also operates reporting pathways for cyberbullying involving children and young people, subject to eligibility requirements.

If there are threats to a child's immediate safety, contact police.

What if the online abuse has been happening for a long time?

Document the pattern of behaviour, not just the most recent incident.

A single message or comment may not demonstrate the full extent of ongoing harassment. Keeping a chronological record of incidents, screenshots, accounts used, dates, reports and responses can help show how the behaviour has developed over time.

Start with Digital Defence's guide to collecting evidence of online abuse(opens in new tab) and then use the Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit to organise your reporting and follow-up actions.

Where can I get help for online abuse in Australia?

The appropriate service depends on what has happened.

Online platforms can deal with content and account violations, while the eSafety Commissioner provides reporting pathways for particular types of serious online harm. Police may be appropriate where threats, stalking, violence or other potentially criminal conduct is involved.

Start with the free Digital Defence Online Abuse Reporting Toolkit. It is designed to help Australians collect evidence, understand different reporting pathways, prepare information for a report and keep track of what happens next.

You can also learn more about Digital Defence and its work fighting online harm in Australia(opens in new tab) or contact Digital Defence(opens in new tab) if you want to share your experience.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).