The Role of Bystanders

Bystanders play an important role in bullying prevention and intervention. In most bullying situations, bystanders are by far the largest number of students involved. They see and/or hear what happens and are impacted by the behaviors. As a bystander, you witness injustice or cruelty, and then have to make a choice to stay silent or to do something about it. Bystanders can be the catalyst to effect positive change, and the goal should be to encourage everyone you know to stand up and do something to help a peer who is being targeted.

The Bystander Infographic

Students should be educated about the role of bystanders in bullying. The infographic can be a useful tool for helping students recognize that there different helpful actions that a bystander to bullying can take. Download a printable version.

of young people say they have seen bullying in their schools.

of school staff have seen bullying

witnessed bullying two or more times in the last month

witness bullying once a week or more

When bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the time.

What can we do to stop bullying?