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For a non-explicit online threat, preserve a clear copy of the message and its context, note where and when it appeared, and report it through the appropriate school, platform, and—when warranted—police channels. Do not delay urgent help while collecting evidence. If the material is a sexual image or video of someone under 18, do not save, screenshot, view, or share it; record safe locating details and seek guidance from the appropriate authority.

Check safety before collecting anything

Ask whether the student or anyone else is in immediate danger. If so, contact local emergency services and follow the school’s safeguarding procedures; do not wait to assemble screenshots or a written record. Emergency numbers and reporting thresholds differ by country. In the UK, Police.uk directs people to call 999 when someone’s life is in immediate danger or someone is using or threatening violence. Australia’s eSafety school toolkit identifies Triple Zero (000) for immediate danger. In the United States, StopBullying.gov advises reporting threats of violence to law enforcement.

Even when danger is not immediate, threats of violence, stalking, or suspected crime may need police attention. The specific legal definitions and reporting duties depend on where the incident occurred. The school’s safeguarding lead can help identify the applicable local process.

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What to save for a non-explicit threat

For ordinary threats or harassment, make a legible record of the message and enough surrounding context to show where it appeared. Save a screenshot or copy where safe and permitted, and note details that help identify the account and incident:

  • Date and time, including the time zone if known.
  • Platform or app, and the URL or location where the content appeared.
  • Account display name, username, and user ID or sender ID if visible.
  • The full relevant message and nearby context, without adding interpretation.
  • Any witnesses, steps already taken, and relevant report receipts or reference numbers.

StopBullying.gov recommends recording dates, times, and descriptions and saving screenshots, emails, and text messages. The eSafety Commissioner’s school toolkit also identifies profile names, usernames, and URLs as useful details. Police.uk lists the sender name, username, user ID, platform, time, and message details as information that can help with a report.

Keep the original file unaltered where possible; if you need to crop, annotate, or redact a copy for sharing, retain a separate original. This is a cautious recordkeeping practice, not a universal chain-of-custody standard. A screenshot by itself does not establish who authored a message, whether it is complete, or whether it is authentic.

Do not capture or circulate sexual material involving a minor

Do not screenshot, download, save, forward, or otherwise circulate sexual images or videos of anyone under 18. The eSafety Commissioner advises parents not to save this material and recommends recording safe locating details such as URLs and profile names instead. Its school toolkit also says not to screenshot, view, or share explicit or illegal/restricted material.

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For such material, or other content that may be illegal or restricted, avoid redistributing it and contact the appropriate safeguarding lead, police, or regulator for instructions. Handling rules vary by jurisdiction. If exposure is distressing, a trusted adult can manage the safe reporting details on the child’s behalf.

Make a concise incident log

A dated log helps keep school, platform, and police reports consistent. Record factual details rather than conclusions, and note what actions were taken and by whom.

  1. Write down when the incident was discovered and the date and time shown on the content, if available.
  2. Identify the platform, location or URL, account details, and the message or conduct reported.
  3. Record who was notified, when they were notified, what information or files were shared, and any reference number or instruction received.
  4. Store the record and any permitted evidence in the school’s approved incident-management system or another secure location consistent with local policy.

Do not reply, retaliate, or forward threatening messages to friends or group chats. StopBullying.gov advises against responding to or forwarding cyberbullying messages. If blocking or reporting may make content inaccessible, preserve a permitted record first when safe; immediate danger and prohibited material are exceptions to that practical step.

Report through the right routes

School, platform, and law-enforcement reporting can serve different purposes; one does not automatically replace the others. Use the school’s safeguarding or incident route, report the content to the platform where appropriate, and contact police if the threat involves violence, immediate danger, or suspected crime. Keep a note of each report and any response.

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Evidence is helpful when available, but it is not a prerequisite for asking for help. Police.uk says a person does not need to gather screenshots, texts, videos, or photos before reporting a threat. StopBullying.gov also describes reporting threats of violence and certain conduct such as stalking or hate crimes to law enforcement in the United States, while noting that state rules differ.

Australia: serious cyberbullying reports

For serious cyberbullying of a child under 18, the eSafety Commissioner says the usual first step is to report the content to the platform. If the platform does not help, a report to eSafety may be possible; the regulator may ask for proof that the platform was contacted and assesses whether the legal removal threshold is met. This is an Australia-specific escalation route, not a universal process.

United Kingdom: threats and AI-enabled extortion

Police.uk explains which sender and message details can help when reporting threatening messages, while making clear that collecting evidence first is not required. A separate UK Department for Education Cyber Security Hub playbook addresses AI-enabled extortion at schools: it advises securing the affected account or device, not engaging, and recording URLs, usernames, platform, and communications. That specialized advice should not be treated as the process for every kind of online threat.

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Support the student and protect their privacy

Listen without blame, prioritize the child’s wellbeing, and avoid making them repeatedly revisit distressing content just to build a record. The eSafety Commissioner suggests that a parent or another trusted adult can collect, store, and report evidence on the child’s behalf. Schools should follow their safeguarding and sector procedures, involve leadership for serious incidents, and use approved incident-management records.

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School staff should not substitute formal student interviews or written statements for a police investigation. Any decision to secure or take control of a device must follow the school’s policy and applicable local rules.

What differs by location

The practical steps—record context, avoid circulating harmful material, and report through suitable channels—are broadly useful, but legal duties, school authority, retention rules, and emergency routes are local. StopBullying.gov’s guidance is U.S.-focused and was reviewed December 11, 2024. The eSafety Commissioner’s parent and school guidance is Australian; its school toolkit is dated March 2026. Police.uk is UK-specific and its threatening-message guidance was accessed October 4, 2026. When unsure, contact the school safeguarding lead, local police, education authority, or relevant regulator for directions on handling the specific material.

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