Cyberbullying evidence checklist
Screenshots only help later if they prove who sent what, and when. Use this checklist to capture proof that holds up.
Capture before you delete or block
The digital trail is the evidence. Screenshot or save it first — then block, report, or remove. Once it's gone, it's gone.
The 3-point screenshot check
Before you save any screenshot, make sure all three are visible in the same image:
- The website address (URL) or app screen.
- The sender's username or handle.
- A visible date and time.
If you can't fit all three in one shot, take a second screenshot of the profile or conversation header so the two together prove the source.
Preserve it properly
- Capture the whole thread, not a single line — context matters.
- For disappearing messages, stories, or live content, use screen recording so a timestamped video preserves it.
- Save the original files and back them up somewhere else.
- Don't reply and don't forward the content — just preserve it.
- Then report it to the platform using its safety tools.
If it's a nude or sexual image of a minor
Do not save, copy, or forward it. Report it to NCMEC's CyberTipline and use Take It Down. See our sextortion guide.
Then log it
Add each item to your record with one line: what it is, where it came from, and the date/time it shows. The record builder keeps your originals on your own device — you never upload them to us.
Related tools & guides
General information — not legal advice
This guide is general information to help you get organized, not legal or mental-health advice, and it doesn't guarantee any outcome. Laws and school policies vary and change. For your specific situation, consult a licensed professional or your state's education agency. In an emergency call 911; for a mental-health crisis call or text 988.