There are many commonly held myths and misconceptions around behaviours that you may be thinking of reporting. These myths can lead to an increased prevalence of issues, poor support for victims/survivors, and/or incorrect outcomes in formal reporting procedures. Here at Southampton we are committed to speaking up and challenging these myths and harmful narratives.

Myth: Bullying only happens in schools.

Fact: This is not the case at all, bullying can happen to anyone, anywhere. It may be out of school, at university or in places of work. 

Myth: You can spot a bully from the way they look and act.

Fact: There is no such thing as a way a bully looks or acts. There is no specific dress code or behaviour style. 

 

Myth: Online bullying is just banter and harmless.

Fact: People being bullied online is a very serious issue, the bullying can go viral very quickly and make the problem escalate quickly. It is important to take a screenshot of any conversations, messages or posts that you feel are bullying so that you have a record. 

Myth: It is easy to spot the signs of bullying. 

Fact: It is not always easy to spot the signs of bullying as it is not always physical and obvious. Emotional, verbal and online bullying can often leave scars that people don’t see.