Safety, Bullying & Online Issues

Understanding bullying, harassment, online abuse, and image sharing can help you recognise when something isn’t right, take steps to stay safe, and know what to do if something happens to you or someone else.

There are steps you can take to stay safe, report harm, remove content, get support, and some behaviours — like threats, stalking, or non-consensual image sharing — may also be criminal offences in Victoria.

If something doesn’t feel right, a trusted adult, youth worker, school wellbeing staff, support service, or legal service can help.

Use the guides, videos, and contact details on this page to work out your next steps.

Topics

From 10 December 2025, social media platforms must take reasonable steps to stop Australians under 16 from creating or keeping accounts.

This applies to platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and others covered by the law. This list is subject to change.

Check the eSafety Commission’s website for the current list of age-restricted platforms: Which social media platforms are age-restricted? | eSafety Commissioner

What this means for you:

Platforms are responsible: It is up to social media companies — not you — to enforce the age limit
No penalties for under-16s: You won’t be fined or in trouble if you had or have an account
Your access may change: You might notice age checks account changes depending on the platform and your age
False Account: Setting up an account with someone else’s identity or fake information can be considered identity theft and may be a crime.
It is illegal because it involves using someone’s personal information without their permission, impersonating or pretending to be someone else, which can lead to harm.
In Victoria, this type of behaviour can be treated as a serious criminal offence.

Bullying is repeated, deliberate behaviour intended to cause harm.

It can include physical harm, threats, constant put-downs, being left out, unfair treatment, discrimination, or behaviour that makes you feel unsafe or scared.

A single serious incident can also be harassment, even if it only happens once.

You have the right to feel safe.

Here is what you should know:

Schools have a legal duty of to take reasonable steps to protect students from bullying — if a school fails to act on a report of bullying — there may be options to escalate the complaint
Duty of Care means having a responsibility to keep others safe and avoid causing harm
Workplaces are legally required to provide a safe environment under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and bullying at work can be reported to the Fair Work Commission
If you feel unsafe you may be able to apply for an intervention order at the Magistrates’ Court (or the Children’s Court if you or the person bullying you, is under 18) — a lawyer can help you with this
Discrimination is being treated unfairly because of your age, race, gender, sexuality, or disability — it is against the law under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth)

Online bullying can happen anywhere, and it is never okay.

This includes trolling, spreading rumours, sharing images permission, threats, and pressuring someone to send images they don’t want to send.

Sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence in Victoria. This covers distributing (sending) an intimate image, threatening to send one, and taking intimate images or videos without consent.

What is an intimate image? An intimate image is a nude, sexual or indecent image or video of a person. This includes images where the person is engaged in a sexual activity, depicted in a sexual way, or where their private parts are shown. It includes photos, videos, and digitally created or altered images (including deepfakes).

What is sexting? “Sexting” is a word people use to describe sending or receiving sexually explicit messages, images, or videos using a phone or the internet. This is something many people do but, there are legal rules about what is and is not okay — and the rules are different depending on the ages of the people involved.

When is it illegal?

Sharing without consent (all ages): Distributing an intimate image of a person over 18 without their consent is a criminal offence under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) with a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment.

Threatening to share someone’s intimate image is also a criminal offence.

If intimate images of you have been shared without your consent:

Do not delete evidence: Save screenshots of the post or message, including the URL and date, if possible, before taking any other steps
Report to the eSafety Commissioner at esafety.gov.au: They can require platforms to remove the content, usually within 24 hours
Report to the platform: Use the reporting tools on the app or website
Contact Victoria Police if you believe a criminal offence has been committed
Talk to a support service or legal service: You don’t have to do this alone

Images involving anyone under 18 — are always illegal — unless an exception applies:

Sending, sharing, taking, possessing, downloading, or storing sexual images of a person under 18 is a serious criminal offence — even if the person in the image agreed, even if you are also under 18, and even if the image is stored in your inbox and never shared.

This is treated as child abuse material under Victorian and Commonwealth law.

Filming or photographing a person in a sexual context without their consent is also a criminal offence.

There are two limited exceptions for under-18s under Victorian law:

You cannot be charged for taking or storing an indecent image of yourself.
If you are under 18 and no person in the image is more than two years younger than you, and the image does not show a serious criminal offence, you may not be charged under the child abuse material laws but, other offences (like distributing without consent) may still apply.

Important: Once an image is sent, you lose control of it. Even if you trusted the person at the time, you cannot get it back. It can be shared further, used for blackmail (known as sextortion), or resurface later.

Healthy relationships are built on respect, trust, and real consent.

This applies to friendships, dating, and any kind of sexual activity.

What does consent mean under Victorian law?

In Victoria, consent to sexual activity means free and voluntary agreement.

Free and voluntary means you are making the choice yourself, because you want to — not because you feel pressured, scared, or forced.

Under Victoria’s affirmative consent laws:

Everyone must actively check that the other person consents — before and during any sexual activity. You cannot assume consent
Consent must be ongoing: Agreeing to one thing does not mean agreeing to everything, and anyone can change their mind at any time
Consent is not real consent if someone agrees because of force, fear, pressure, threats, or being so affected by drugs or alcohol that they cannot properly agree
‘Stealthing’ — removing or tampering with a condom without the other person’s agreement — is a criminal offence in Victoria

Age of consent in Victoria:

The age of consent is the legal age at which a person can agree to sexual activity — these rules apply regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Under 12:

No one can have sex with, touch sexually, or perform a sexual act in front of a person under 12, for any reason, under any circumstances

Ages 12 to 15:

If you are 12 to 15, even if you agree, a person who is more than two years older than you cannot have sex with you, touch you sexually, or perform a sexual act in front of you
The two-year difference is calculated exactly — this rule exists to protect younger people while recognising that people close in age may be exploring relationships together

Ages 16 to 17:

At 16 or 17, you can generally agree to sexual activity
However if the other person is in a position of care or supervision over you — such as a teacher, youth worker, foster carer, or coach — they cannot have sex with you, even if you agree. The age of consent is 18 in those situations

Important: Consent still applies at every age:

Even when both people are above the age of consent, sexual activity must still be freely and voluntarily agreed to by everyone involved — age alone does not mean consent exists

If something has happened to you that didn’t feel right, or someone is pressuring you, it’s not your fault.

A support service or legal service can help you understand your options.

Key Legal Messages:

Consent must be active: Under Victorian law, everyone must take active steps to check the other person agrees — silence or no response is not consent
You can always say no: You can say no or change your mind at any time — even if you agreed earlier
Pressure cancels consent: Fear, threats, guilt, or coercion mean there is no real consent — and that is a serious legal issue
It’s not your fault: If your consent was not properly sought or respected, what happened is not your fault
Age of consent:
• In Victoria the general age of consent is 16.
• For 12–15 year olds, sexual activity is only lawful with someone no more than 2 years older
• It is 18 if the other person is in a position of authority over you

Important: Laws are different in each state, so make sure you check the local laws when travelling to another state in Australia — and especially if you go overseas.

If you need urgent assistance or feel unsafe right now, call 000.

Legal advice: Do you think you may have a legal issue and would like advice? Free and confidential help is available.

Contact:

Barwon Community Legal Service | 📞 1300 430 599 | 📱 Text 0487 182 273 | or click here to request an appointment online
Victoria Legal Aid | 📞 1300 792 387 | 🌐 legalaid.vic.gov.au/contact-us | 💬 Webchat
YouthLaw | 📞 (03) 9113 9500 | 🌐 youthlaw.asn.au | ✉️ info@youthlaw.asn.au | Free legal advice for under 25s

If you need to speak to someone urgently please call:

Lifeline (Free 24/7) | 📞 13 11 14 | 💬 Webchat | 📱 Text 0477 131 114
Crisis support and suicide prevention.

Kids Helpline (Free 24/7) | 📞 1800 551 800 | 🌐 kidshelpline.com.au
Counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

🌈 Rainbow Door (10-5pm every day) | 📞 1800 729 367 | 📱 Text 0480 017 246 | 🌐 rainbowdoor.org.au
Free helpline and specialist support service for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and families.

🖤💛❤️ 13YARN (Free 24/7) | 📞 13 92 76 | 🌐 13yarn.org.au
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line developed and run by community in partnership with Lifeline.

Other helpful resources:

Ask Izzy | 🌐 askizzy.org.au
FREE directory to find local housing, food, and support services near you.

Quick Help Guide (BAT Force) | 🌐 batforce.org.au/quick-help-guide
A practical guide connecting you to support for food, housing, mental health, family violence, financial stress and tenancy.

YouthNav (Youth Central) | 🌐 youthcentral.vic.gov.au/youthnav
A life skills and information hub for young people aged 12 to 25 that helps build knowledge, confidence, and independence into adulthood.