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Support & Resources
Online abuse is real, and it affects real people. We care, and we're building a movement and a support ecosystem to help. Here's what we can offer today — honestly — and where to find help that exists right now.
Stop Online Abuse is currently building its support ecosystem. Direct support services are not yet available through our organization.
We are not a crisis line, a reporting center, or an emergency service. What we offer today is education, safety information, and a growing community — and we'll always be honest about what we do and don't provide.
In an emergency
Stop Online Abuse does not operate emergency or crisis services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services (for example 112 in the EU, 911 in the US, 999 in the UK, or your national emergency number).
To find established helplines in your country, these independent organizations maintain up-to-date directories:
- findahelpline.com — crisis and support lines by country
- StopNCII.org — help with intimate-image abuse
These are independent third-party services. We share them as a starting point — they are not operated by Stop Online Abuse.
Safety information: common situations
General, educational guidance for common situations. This is information to help you understand your options — not a service we operate on your behalf.
Cyberbullying
- ① What you can do first
- Don't engage; block; tell someone you trust.
- ② Evidence to save
- Screenshots, usernames, dates, URLs.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Platform report tools; school if involved.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- Threats of violence, persistent targeting, or a minor is involved.
Deepfakes / image abuse
- ① What you can do first
- Don't blame yourself; act fast to limit spread.
- ② Evidence to save
- Screenshots, URLs, accounts, upload dates.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Platform takedown + image-abuse hotlines.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- Intimate/sexual images, a minor is depicted, or sextortion — contact police now.
Doxxing
- ① What you can do first
- Lock down accounts; increase privacy settings; warn contacts.
- ② Evidence to save
- Posts exposing your info, URLs, usernames, timestamps.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Platform report; national cybercrime service.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- Home address shared, threats, or stalking.
Harassment
- ① What you can do first
- Block; stop responding; document the pattern.
- ② Evidence to save
- Messages, profiles, dates, frequency.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Platform tools; employer/school if relevant.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- Threats, escalation, or off-platform contact.
Blackmail / sextortion
- ① What you can do first
- Do not pay. Do not send more. You are not in trouble. Preserve everything.
- ② Evidence to save
- Messages, usernames, payment demands, profiles.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Police now + child-protection hotline if a minor; platform report.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- Always — treat as a crime and contact police.
Impersonation
- ① What you can do first
- Report the fake account; warn your network.
- ② Evidence to save
- Fake profile URL, screenshots, your real account.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Platform impersonation report.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- Financial fraud, defamation, or ongoing harm.
Creator attacks (coordinated)
- ① What you can do first
- Don't engage the swarm; enable filters; rally trusted moderators.
- ② Evidence to save
- Pattern evidence, ringleader accounts, timeline, hashtags.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Platform bulk-report; platform partner channels.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- Threats, doxxing, or off-platform escalation.
Platform abuse (general)
- ① What you can do first
- Use the platform's reporting flow; escalate to a human if possible.
- ② Evidence to save
- Report reference numbers, screenshots.
- ③ Where it can be reported
- Platform trust & safety.
- ④ When to involve authorities
- No response plus ongoing harm — contact external bodies.
Safety guides
What to do if you are being cyberbullied
You are not to blame. These are general steps — save your evidence and reach out to the right people and platforms.
What to do if someone shares fake or intimate images of you
You are not to blame. These are general steps — save your evidence and reach out to the right people and platforms.
What to do if you are being doxxed
You are not to blame. These are general steps — save your evidence and reach out to the right people and platforms.
What to do if you are being blackmailed or sextorted
You are not to blame. These are general steps — save your evidence and reach out to the right people and platforms.
What to do if your child is being targeted online
You are not to blame. These are general steps — save your evidence and reach out to the right people and platforms.
What to do if you are a creator under coordinated attack
You are not to blame. These are general steps — save your evidence and reach out to the right people and platforms.
Evidence checklist
If you decide to report something, save evidence before you block or delete — once it's gone, it's hard to recover.
- Screenshots of messages, posts, and profiles (show full context)
- URLs / links to the content and accounts
- Usernames / handles / profile IDs
- Dates and times (and timezone)
- The messages themselves (export if possible)
- Platform report references (ticket / case numbers)
- Witnesses (anyone who saw it)
- Do not delete the original evidence before you have saved copies
Learn more
Understanding online abuse is the first step. Explore why this work matters and browse our growing resource library.
Where we're headed
Our long-term goal is a connected support ecosystem — built with trusted partners, verified resources, and ethical technology. We're developing future partnerships and resources to make help easier to find and reach. None of this is live yet, and we won't pretend otherwise. Follow our roadmap to see what's ahead.
Help us build the support people deserve.
The faster the movement grows, the faster real support can follow. Join us.