Legal Recourses: Reporting and Fighting Online Abuse

When online abuse crosses into threats or stalking, legal action is a powerful tool. In 2025, laws are catching up, but families must know their options. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) protects kids under 13, while state cyberbullying laws vary, per StopBullying.gov (https://www.stopbullying.gov/).
First, report to platforms—Meta and TikTok have abuse teams that remove harmful content. For crimes like threats or sextortion, file with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (https://www.ic3.gov/). Cyberstalking, impacting millions, is prosecutable in many states with penalties like fines or jail, per the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Underreporting is rampant—only 1 in 10 incidents reach authorities, per the Cyberbullying Research Center. Yet, successes grow: NCMEC’s CyberTipline led to predator arrests in 2024 (https://www.missingkids.org/). Preserve evidence—screenshots, messages—before reporting. Free legal aid is available via End to Cyberbullying (https://endcyberbullying.org/).
The Cyber Project’s workshops teach families to navigate reporting. Justice is within reach—act swiftly to stop abuse and reclaim safety.