Report it, don’t ignore it: Snapchat & Project Rockit find almost two in three Australians have experienced bullying, yet few take action online

• Almost two in three (62%) Australians have experienced bullying, yet few take action online.
• 31% of Aussies admit they wouldn’t be likely to report online bullying, despite six in ten (59%) agreeing that reporting online bullying helps stop it.
• 55% of teens report having experienced bullying, yet 55% also say that reporting it makes you a “snitch”.

New research commissioned by Snapchat, in partnership with leading anti-bullying organisation Project Rockit, reveals that while the majority of Australians have experienced bullying, many are still reluctant to report it. Fear, lack of understanding and social stigma continue to keep too many people silent.

The findings come as Snapchat and Project Rockit launch a national call to action – “Report it, don’t ignore it” – urging Australians to speak up and take action against bullying. As part of the campaign, Snapchat has teamed up with Australian stars Phoebe Burgess (Media Personality), Isaac Humphries (NBL Basketballer) and Brooke Boney (Gamilaroi Woman and Journalist) to create educational social content sharing their personal experiences with bullying and encouraging others to report harmful behaviour.

“Bullying is an insidious behaviour that can creep into every part of someone’s life, and staying silent only makes the harm grow,” said Lucy Thomas, CEO of Project Rockit. “When we choose to report bullying, we’re not just calling out bad behaviour – we’re stepping up to protect ourselves and others, and helping build a safer, kinder world. We know it can feel risky to take action, but ignoring it only gives bullying more power. That’s why now, more than ever, it’s so important to make the courageous choice: report it, don’t ignore it.”

The survey of more than 1,000 Australians aged 13 and over found that 62% have experienced bullying, most commonly at school (67%). Though more than one in three (37%) have experienced bullying online, and almost one quarter (24%) have experienced this behaviour at work.

Australians hesitate to report bullying, even when it happens to them

Of those who have experienced bullying themselves, six in ten regret not reporting it when they had the chance (60%).The number of Australians who report bullying continues to be low, with 43% saying they wouldn’t know where to begin, and just 36% feeling confident taking action.

Younger generations are most aware of how to report bullying, with Gen Z the most likely to say they know how to report bullying (85%), compared to Millennials (75%), Gen X (39%), and Baby Boomers (28%). However, even when faced with bullying, a third (33%) never report it when they are personally targeted, and 28% never report it when they witness it happening to someone else.

Fear holds Aussies back when it comes to taking action

Among those who’ve been bullied, the biggest barriers to reporting include feeling it’s easier to block or ignore the person (37%), believing reporting won’t make a difference (36%), or fearing it could make things worse (34%).

Those who have seen it happening to someone else also hesitate, with many worrying that reporting will make things worse for the victim (37%), that no action will be taken (34%), or that they’ll become targets themselves (30%).

“Snitch” stigma strong amongst teens – but there’s hope for change

While most Australians agree that reporting helps stop bullying (59%), a quarter (26%) still believe it makes them look like a “snitch”. This barrier is felt more by teens (55%) than any other age group. Yet 71% still believe reporting helps stop bullying, showing positive intent, but social pressure remains a major blocker.

When Aussies trust that action will be taken, they find the courage to speak up

Encouragingly, people say they’d be far more likely to report if they knew action would be taken (66%), bullying would stop quickly (61%), and reports would stay confidential (55%).Family remains the strongest influence on whether someone chooses to report (33%), followed by friends (15%). However, nearly a third (32%) say no one would influence their decision, underscoring the importance of empowering individuals with the knowledge and confidence to act.

“Bullying and harassment have no place on Snapchat,” said Ben Au, ANZ Safety Lead at Snapchat. “Snapchat is where people come to connect with their closest friends and family, and their safety is our highest priority. If you see bullying or experience it, report it, don’t ignore it. On Snapchat, it’s as easy as pressing and holding a message, then tapping ‘report’. Our safety team, including members based here in Australia, is on hand 24/7 to help. Whether that means removing harmful content, locking accounts, or working with the right authorities, we’re here to make sure everyone feels safe, respected and supported.”

If you ever experience harassment, bullying, or any other safety concern, you can report it directly within the Snapchat app. Together, we can make Snapchat a safer place and a stronger community. Just press and hold a message, then tap ‘report.’ For more information CLICK HERE

Please visit QMAGAZINE MEDIA to view the video produced for this very important project.

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