What to do

If rumours spread about you online, you should:

● Report damaging messages to the social network hosting them. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have options to report targeted online harassment.

● Capture screenshots of the offending messages.

● If rumours are being spread in reply to your own social media posts, you can ‘hide reply’ on Twitter or delete comments on Facebook.

● If you’re under 18, you can report cyberbullying to the eSafety Commission online. The authority can order the removal of serious online harassment, and will offer advice and assistance.

● If the harmful rumours are being spread by a small group of people, you could engage a lawyer to send them an “urgent concerns notice” demanding the removal of the offensive content.

● Or you could launch a defamation case against the main perpetrator.