Where's the line? Understanding cyberbullying
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Estimated Time: 50-60 mins
Years 7–8 students struggle to tell when online “banter” becomes cyberbullying. Group dynamics and growing independence online can make tone and intent harder to read, and “it’s just a joke” can minimise real impact. If harm isn’t named early, it can spread fast, feel more public, and become harder to stop.
Where’s the Line? is a cyberbullying prevention session that helps ākonga recognise when joking crosses into harm by considering intent, impact, repetition and power. It uses guided discussion and age-relevant scenarios to build empathy, strengthen shared language for what’s happening, and practise safer responses for targets and bystanders—online and offline. Part of the Netsafe Cyberbullying Prevention Toolkit.
This session
Theme: Explore where the line is between banter, teasing, conflict, lashing out, and bullying, offline and online, by analysing intent, impact, repetition, and power to recognise harm and respond safely.
Learning outcomes: In this session, students will learn to:
- Explain the differences between banter, teasing, conflict, lashing out, and bullying
- Place behaviours on the Wheel of Misfortune and justify their reasoning
- Analyse scenarios by considering intent, impact, repetition, and power imbalance
- Explore why online bullying can feel different and more intense
Activities:
- Class activity, 5 mins: Where’s the line, online? — Slide deck
- Small group activity, 15 mins: Building the wheel of misfortune — PDF worksheet: Wheel of Misfortune. Note the answer key is on page 3.
- Class or small group discussion, 5 mins: Linking the Wheel to online behaviour
- Small group activity, 20 mins: Scenario cards — PDF Handout: Scenario Cards (Joking and Banter)
- Individual, small group, and class reflection, 10 mins: When joking stops being funny
- Exit ticket, 5 mins – How can you tell when the line has been crossed, online?
- Extensions:
- Create scenarios
- Tuakana teina
- Classroom display
- Spread the message
Key messages:
- Not everything unkind online is cyberbullying - but it all matters. Even if it’s not “bullying,” teasing, exclusion, or one-off hurtful jokes still affect people and deserve attention.
- Intent matters, but impact matters more. You might mean it as a joke, but if someone feels hurt or embarrassed, it’s time to stop and check in.
- Online makes everything louder. More people can see it, it lasts longer, and even small things like reactions or shares can pile on and make the harm bigger.
- Everyone has a role. You can notice when something crosses the line, support the person it’s happening to, speak up, or report it. Doing nothing keeps it going.
- Kindness and fun can co-exist. The goal isn’t to stop joking - it’s to help it stay fun, fair, and safe for everyone, both online and offline.
Classroom resources:
- Slide deck: Where’s the line session
- PDF handout: Wheel of Misfortune
- PDF: Scenario cards (Joking and banter)
Teacher support:
- Facilitator guide – with context, research, and learning progression.
- Activity plan – with step by step instructions.
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Related Tools and Resources
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