Cyberbullying (Online Bullying) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cyberbullying happens when phones, computers, or other digital tools are used to bully, threaten, or harass someone. In Grand Rapids, MI, this often happens through:

  • Text messages and group chats
  • Social media (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, X/Twitter)
  • Online gaming chats (Xbox, PlayStation, PC games)
  • Email and messaging apps
  • School-based platforms (Google Classroom, messaging inside learning apps)

Because cyberbullying can be anonymous, can spread quickly, and can be hard to delete, it can be just as harmful—or even more harmful—than in‑person bullying.

What Does Cyberbullying Look Like?

Cyberbullying can take many forms. You may be experiencing cyberbullying in Grand Rapids if:

  • You receive mean, threatening, or abusive texts, DMs, emails, or comments
  • Someone posts rumors, lies, or embarrassing photos/videos of you online
  • Someone hacks into your social media or email and changes your information
  • Someone creates fake accounts pretending to be you
  • You’re repeatedly excluded from group chats, online games, or school-related group messages
  • You’re “trolled” or harassed in gaming chats or on social media
  • People send or share images or videos of you without your consent to embarrass or hurt you

The line between “just joking” and bullying can be hard to see. If it makes you feel scared, ashamed, or constantly on edge, it’s not okay.

Why Cyberbullying Is a Big Problem in Grand Rapids

1. Anonymity Makes It Harsher

People who bully online often hide behind fake names or profiles. This can make them bolder and more cruel because they don’t feel accountable. The person being bullied can feel unsafe, even at home.

2. It Can Feel Relentless

Teens and preteens in Grand Rapids are online a lot—especially during long Michigan winters when everyone is indoors more. Notifications come through day and night, so:

  • Bullying can follow you from school to home
  • You may feel like there is no “off switch”
  • You might feel unsafe at school, at home, or even when you’re just relaxing

3. It Spreads Fast and Is Hard to Remove

A hurtful post, photo, or video can:

  • Reach a large audience quickly
  • Be shared or screenshotted before it’s deleted
  • Resurface later, even if you thought it was gone

Research suggests about 1 in 5 American kids aged 8–15 have been cyberbullied. In a typical middle or high school in the Grand Rapids area, that could mean a whole classroom’s worth of students are affected.

How Cyberbullying Can Make You Feel

If you’re being cyberbullied, you might feel:

  • Ashamed, humiliated, or embarrassed
  • Guilty, like it’s somehow your fault
  • Hopeless, like you can’t get out of the situation
  • Alone, like no one understands or can help
  • Like you don’t fit in or don’t belong at your school
  • Sad, anxious, or constantly stressed
  • Unsafe or afraid to go to school or log in online

If you ever feel desperate, or you’re thinking about harming yourself:

  • Tell a parent, caregiver, or another trusted adult immediately.
  • If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

You are not alone, and there are people in Grand Rapids who can help.

Local Help for Cyberbullying in Grand Rapids, MI

If you live in Grand Rapids or Kent County, you can reach out to:

  • Your school

    • School counselor, social worker, teacher, principal, or coach
    • Public, private, and charter schools in Grand Rapids all have policies about bullying and cyberbullying.

  • Kent County Health Department

  • Network 180 (Kent County Community Mental Health)

  • Local healthcare systems

    • Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) – Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital: pediatric behavioral health and counseling
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids: behavioral health services
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health: mental health referrals
    • Mercy Health: counseling and behavioral health resources

  • National hotlines (available in Grand Rapids)

    • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
    • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
    • The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth) – Call 1‑866‑488‑7386 or text START to 678678

You don’t have to handle cyberbullying alone. Reaching out is a strong and important step.

What To Do If You Are Being Cyberbullied

1. Tell Someone You Trust

In Grand Rapids, this could be:

  • A parent or caregiver
  • A teacher or school counselor
  • A coach, youth group leader, or mentor
  • A school social worker or nurse

The sooner you talk, the sooner adults can help you feel safe and take action.

2. Don’t Respond When You’re Upset

If you’re feeling angry or hurt:

  • Don’t reply to the message right away
  • Avoid posting or commenting when you’re very emotional
  • Take a break—go for a walk (when weather allows), listen to music, or talk to a friend offline

An angry response is often exactly what the bully wants.

3. Block and Unfriend

Use your device and app settings to:

  • Block the person’s profile or phone number
  • Unfriend or remove them from your contacts and followers
  • Turn off or limit comments on your posts
  • Adjust privacy settings so only people you trust can see or message you

Every major social media platform and messaging app has tools to block and report users.

4. Save the Evidence

Even if you want it gone, do not delete everything before you save it. Keep a record in case your school, parents, or law enforcement need it.

  • Take screenshots of messages, posts, and comments
  • Save emails or text messages
  • Write down dates, times, and usernames involved
  • Keep copies of any threats or repeated harassment

Store this in a folder on your phone or computer, or print them out and keep them in a safe place.

5. Report the Cyberbullying

Most platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X/Twitter, gaming platforms) allow you to:

  • Report abusive content
  • Report fake accounts
  • Report harassment, threats, or hate speech

Look under “Settings,” “Help,” or “Report” in the app.

If the bullying continues or the content is not removed:

  • Tell your school (Grand Rapids Public Schools and other local districts must follow anti‑bullying policies).
  • Talk to your parents about whether to contact law enforcement, especially if there are threats of violence, stalking, or sharing private images.
  • You can also review online safety information from the U.S. Office of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection and other federal resources.

6. Log Off and Take Care of Yourself

After you’ve:

  • Saved the evidence
  • Blocked the bully
  • Reported the content

Then:

  • Log out of the app or site
  • Put your phone or device away for a while
  • Do something that makes you feel good:
    • Watch a favorite show
    • Read, draw, or play music
    • Meet up with a trusted friend or family member
    • Get outside—walk along the Grand River, visit a local park like Millennium Park or Riverside Park when the weather is safe

Taking breaks from screens is especially important during long Michigan winters, when it’s easy to stay online all day.

Could You Be Cyberbullying Someone?

Before you immediately say “no,” think about your online behavior:

  • Have you shared a meme, photo, or video making fun of a classmate?
  • Have you joined in on a group chat where everyone was targeting one person?
  • Have you posted something you thought was “just a joke,” but the other person looked upset or stopped talking to you?
  • Have you posted or forwarded something after a breakup or argument to get back at someone?

It still counts as bullying even if:

  • They started it
  • They bullied you in person first
  • Other people were doing it too
  • You “didn’t mean it” or thought it was funny

Cyberbullying can make you feel powerful or popular in the moment, but it can seriously harm someone else—and can have consequences at school and even with the law.

What To Do If You Have Cyberbullied Someone

1. Stop Immediately

  • Don’t send another message, post, or share
  • Don’t talk about the person in group chats or DMs
  • Don’t create or use fake profiles

2. Apologize

If it’s safe and appropriate:

  • Send a sincere, short apology
  • Don’t blame them or make excuses
  • Let them know it won’t happen again

Sometimes the other person may not want to talk, and that’s okay. Respect their space.

3. Ask for Help to Change Your Behavior

Talk to:

  • Your parent or caregiver
  • A teacher, school counselor, or school social worker
  • A trusted adult at your church, mosque, synagogue, or youth program
  • A mental health professional in Grand Rapids (through Corewell Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, or Network 180)

Tell them honestly what happened. You will likely feel relieved, and they can help you figure out how to repair the situation and avoid doing it again.

4. Use the “One-Minute Rule”

Before you post, send, or comment:

  1. Type your message.
  2. Put your phone or device down for one minute.
  3. Come back and read it again.

Ask yourself:

  • Is this hurtful or mean?
  • Would I say this to their face?
  • How would I feel if someone posted this about me?
  • Would I be okay if my parents, teachers, or a future employer saw this?

If you’re not sure, don’t post it.

Cyberbullying vs. Offline Bullying

Cyberbullying is different from in‑person bullying because:

  • It can happen 24/7, even when you’re at home
  • It can be anonymous or come from fake accounts
  • It can be seen by a large audience quickly
  • It can be saved, shared, and reposted, even long after you delete it

Examples of cyberbullying include:

  • Repeated harassing or threatening messages
  • Sharing photos or videos to embarrass or hurt you
  • Trying to cut you off from friends by excluding you from group chats
  • Leaving you out of online games or forums on purpose
  • Trolling or stalking you online
  • Spreading rumors or lies about you through posts or messages

Cyberbullying and Mental Health in Grand Rapids

Living in West Michigan, long dark winters, snow days, and fewer outdoor activities can make stress, anxiety, and sadness feel heavier—especially if you’re dealing with cyberbullying at the same time.

Watch for warning signs in yourself or a friend:

  • Changes in sleep or appetite
  • Avoiding school or activities
  • Suddenly deleting social media accounts
  • Headaches, stomachaches, or frequent “sick days”
  • Talking about feeling worthless or like a burden

If you notice these signs:

  • Reach out to a trusted adult
  • Consider talking to a counselor or mental health provider in Grand Rapids
  • Use local and national crisis resources if you feel unsafe

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you or someone you know is dealing with cyberbullying:

  • Talk to your parents, teacher, or school counselor
  • Kent County Health Department – Youth and mental health resources: https://www.accesskent.com
  • Network 180 (Kent County Community Mental Health) – (616) 336‑3909, https://www.network180.org
  • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health – Ask your primary care provider or pediatrician for a referral to behavioral health or counseling
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988
  • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741

Remember

  • Cyberbullying is never your fault.
  • You deserve to feel safe at school, at home, and online.
  • There are real steps you can take to make it stop.
  • Grand Rapids schools, healthcare systems, and community resources are here to help you and your family.

If you’re unsure what to do next, start with one step: tell a trusted adult today.