If your child is facing cyberbullying outside school, help them stop replying, save screenshots with dates and usernames, block the account and report it to the platform. Since 29 June 2026, Punggol parents can also report online harassment and some other online harms to the Online Safety Commission at report.osc.gov.sg. If your child is in danger, call 999.
It hurts to watch your child being picked on by someone behind a screen. You can help, and you do not have to work it out alone. If your child is very upset, SOS on 1767 and the national mindline on 1771 are open 24 hours.
This page is part of eduKate Punggol’s When You Need Help in Punggol, our practical guides for life’s occasions, big and small. It covers online bullying away from school: what to do first, how to keep evidence, how to report to platforms, the Online Safety Commission and the police, and where your child can talk to someone. For bullying in school, see our school bullying guides linked below.
Quick answer
- First steps: the Health Promotion Board’s five steps for children are Stop, Save, Block, Tell and Report.
- Report to the platform first. For online harassment or stalking, if the platform does not respond promptly or adequately within 24 hours, report to the Online Safety Commission (OSC) at report.osc.gov.sg. Doxxing, intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse go straight to the OSC.
- Parents can report for a child under 18. An OSC report is free, but it cannot be anonymous.
- Threats, sexual images or blackmail: report to the police as well. Call 999 or SMS 70999 in an emergency, or the Police Hotline on 1800-255-0000.
- Someone to talk to: SOS on 1767 or CareText on WhatsApp at 9151 1767, and the national mindline on 1771, all 24 hours. Children aged 13 and below can call Tinkle Friend on 1800 2744 788.
What to Do First About Cyberbullying
Go at your child’s pace. These steps follow the advice of HPB and the OSC.
- Stay calm and listen. HPB suggests opening gently, for example: “You seem upset. Let’s sit down and talk about it.” Let your child finish, tell them bullying is not okay, and thank them for telling you. HPB says reaching out is “not a sign of weakness, but instead a sign of resilience and courage”.
- Help them stop engaging. HPB advises children to stop any hurtful online activity and to avoid replying to the bully straight away.
- Save the evidence before anything is deleted. The OSC asks for screenshots or links to the posts, messages, comments or images, with the dates and times they were sent. Note the usernames, handles, profile links or IDs, and which platforms were used.
- Block the account. Use the app’s own blocking feature to cut off contact.
- Report it to the platform, using the in-app reporting tools. Screenshot your report, or the platform’s reply. The OSC needs this proof for online harassment cases.
- Go to the OSC if the platform does not act. For online harassment and stalking, you can report to the OSC if the platform has not responded promptly or adequately within 24 hours. For doxxing, intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse, report to the OSC directly, with no wait.
- Call the police if a crime may have been committed, such as threats of harm, sexual images or demands for money. The OSC says its report does not replace a police report.
- Tell the school if a schoolmate is involved. HPB says to inform the school where relevant, as schools can counsel, investigate and work with parents.
Where to Report Cyberbullying and Get Support
The OSC works online only and has no phone number. Its partners below can help you file a report or flag content, and several offer counselling.
| Who | Contact | Hours | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Safety Commission (OSC) | Report at report.osc.gov.sg, or use the contact form on its website. No phone line. | Online | Online harassment, online stalking, doxxing, intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse. |
| SHECARES (SG Her Empowerment), OSC partner | 800 101 4616; WhatsApp (text) 8985 5528; shecares@she.org.sg | Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, excluding public holidays | Flagging content to platforms, help with OSC reports, counselling and free legal clinics by appointment. |
| TOUCH Community Services, OSC partner | 1800 377 2252; mentalhealth@touch.org.sg | Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, excluding public holidays | Flagging harmful content to platforms, and counselling for children, youths, adults and families. |
| Tinkle Friend (Singapore Children’s Society) | 1800 2744 788; chat at tinklefriend.sg | Phone Mon–Fri 2.30–5pm; chat Mon–Thu 2.30–7pm, Fri 2.30–5pm, excluding public holidays | Children aged 13 and below who are lonely or distressed. |
| Fei Yue ReConnect (Youth Support Services) | Online at ec2.sg; ec2sg@fycs.org | Mon–Fri 9.30am–5.30pm, excluding public holidays | Online counselling for youths aged 12 to 25. |
| Fei Yue family counselling (Strengthening Families Programme) | 6235 5229; fam@fycs.org | Mon–Fri 9.30am–6pm, excluding public holidays | Family counselling when the whole household is shaken. |
| Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) and national mindline | SOS 1767; CareText 9151 1767 (WhatsApp). Mindline 1771; WhatsApp 6669 1771. | 24 hours | Someone to talk to when it feels too much. |
| Singapore Police Force | 999 or SMS 70999 in an emergency; Police Hotline 1800-255-0000; online via i-Witness | 999 runs 24 hours | Threats, sexual images, extortion or any crime. |
| National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) | 1800-777-0000 | 24 hours | Sexual harassment or violence. |
Checked October 2026 — confirm on the official page before you go: OSC support partners, OSC guide for under-18s and SPF advisory on sexual crimes.
Which Situation Fits You
You suspect something, but your child has not said
HPB lists signs to watch for. These include becoming upset or anxious when messages arrive, persistent stomach aches or headaches, and being unusually angry, nervous or low. Other signs are deleting social media accounts, avoiding devices, withdrawing from family and friends, and a sharp drop in schoolwork. HPB notes these signs do not always mean cyberbullying, so ask gently rather than check the phone in secret.
Your child is under 18
A parent or guardian can report to the OSC for them. A trusted adult such as a caregiver, teacher or counsellor can also report, or an OSC community partner, but they need the child’s permission through the authorisation form at go.gov.sg/osc-authorisation. The adult fills in report.osc.gov.sg with the child’s details, what happened, where, and the evidence. The OSC asks you to keep evidence “if it is safe to do so”.
Someone shared your child’s address or private images
Sharing someone’s personal details to harass them (doxxing), intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse can be reported straight to the OSC, without waiting for the platform. If a sexual image of a child is involved, report it to the police too.
There are threats, blackmail or edited sexual images
In an April 2026 advisory about harassment emails using digitally altered sexual images, the police advised people to remain calm, not to start contact, and not to send money or cryptocurrency. Save everything, then report it to the police straight away on 1800-255-0000, or 999 if it is urgent.
The bully is a classmate
Use the platform and evidence steps above for what happens online, and talk to the form teacher or school counsellor about the rest. Our guide to reporting school bullying explains how schools handle it.
Your teenager does not want you involved
That is common. Let them know the options are theirs too: CareText on WhatsApp, or Fei Yue’s ReConnect online counselling for ages 12 to 25. HPB suggests affirming your child whenever they do open up.
Rules, Fees and Timelines
- Who can use the OSC for online harassment: Singapore Citizens, PRs and long-term pass holders, where the harassment affects you or someone you have a personal relationship with, and you reported it to the platform at least 24 hours earlier. If you are not eligible, report to the platform directly.
- Cost: an OSC report is free. Reports cannot be anonymous, as the law does not allow it.
- How long it takes: the OSC says it reviews reports as quickly as possible, and complicated cases may take longer. No fixed timeline is published.
- What the OSC can do: direct the poster, a group or page administrator, or the platform to remove content or restrict the account. Not complying is a criminal offence.
- If you disagree with a decision: ask for reconsideration within 14 days, free of charge. You can then appeal to the Online Safety Appeal Panel within 14 days of that decision, for a $200 fee.
- Finding out who is behind an account: an End-User Identity application, for civil proceedings, must be made within 12 months of the harm or of becoming aware of it, whichever is later.
- Through the courts: under the Protection from Harassment Act, the Judiciary lists a $30 filing fee for a simplified protection order claim, and expedited hearings are generally held within two working days. A victim under 21 needs a litigation representative aged 21 or over, usually a parent, applying through a lawyer.
The OSC’s first phase, from 29 June 2026, covers five harms. Eight more categories are due to be added in stages, with no dates published as of October 2026.
Neighbour’s Tips
- Screenshot the report, not just the bullying. The OSC needs proof of your platform report dated at least 24 hours before you file with it.
- Capture the details around the message. Dates, times, usernames and links matter as much as the words themselves.
- Keep everything after you report. The OSC advises keeping evidence, especially if you may go to the police or court later.
- One report can cover it all. The OSC says a single report can include all the harms your child is facing.
- Ask for help filling in forms. SHECARES and TOUCH both help with OSC reports and flagging content.
- Free legal advice exists. SHECARES runs free legal clinics on the first, third and fifth Wednesday of the month, 7pm to 9pm, by appointment.
- There is no wrong door. The government says you will be pointed to the right help even if you approach a different agency first.
If It’s Urgent or Gets Worse
If your child is in danger, or someone threatens to hurt them or turns up in person, call 999 or SMS 70999. The police say you can report a sexual crime however long ago it happened, but reporting early helps preserve evidence. For sexual harassment or violence, NAVH is on 1800-777-0000, 24 hours.
If your child talks about hurting themselves, or seems hopeless, stay with them and call SOS on 1767 or message CareText on 9151 1767, any time. The national mindline on 1771 is also open 24 hours. In a medical emergency, call 995.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report cyberbullying on my child’s behalf?
Yes. A parent or guardian can report to the OSC for a child under 18. Other trusted adults need the child’s permission through the OSC authorisation form.
Is there an Online Safety Commission hotline?
No phone number is published. Report online at report.osc.gov.sg or use the contact form. For help by phone, call one of its partners, such as TOUCH on 1800 377 2252.
Do I have to report to the platform first?
For online harassment and stalking, yes, and you need proof of that report from at least 24 hours earlier. For doxxing, intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse, you can go to the OSC directly.
Can I report anonymously?
No. The OSC says the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 does not allow anonymous reports.
Does an OSC report replace a police report?
No. If you believe a crime has been committed, make a police report as well.
What will it cost?
An OSC report and a request for reconsideration are free. An appeal to the Online Safety Appeal Panel costs $200. A simplified court claim for a protection order costs $30, plus any lawyer’s fees.
More Help on eduKate Punggol
- Reporting school bullying in Punggol: how to raise it with the school.
- School bullying, discipline and peer support explained
- Cyber wellness, values, AI and deepfakes in school
- Mental health help in Punggol: crisis lines and counselling.
- Working with your child’s school: Parents Gateway and parent support groups.
- Keeping children safe online: parental controls and where to get help.
- Official: OSC on online harassment · HPB on supporting a bullied child · Judiciary: protection from harassment
You Are on Their Side
What your child needs most is to know you believe them. Save what you need, make the reports, lean on the people above, and keep talking at home, a little and often, long after the messages stop.
When things settle, we are here for the everyday side of school life too. And if your family is also looking for calm, small-group English, Mathematics or Science, eduKate Punggol teaches classes of three in Punggol. Come find out more: Book a consultation · Chat on WhatsApp
eduKate Punggol
Small-group English, Mathematics and Science
Primary and Secondary
By appointment · +65 8823 1234
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Checked October 2026. Addresses, opening hours, fees and rules change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.
