Being online means you're putting yourself out there to be seen by others, and can give you a voice to express yourself. You should always make sure your profiles and accounts are safe and private, but as soon as you post something, people will often have an opinion on it.
Radio 1 DJ Greg James knows all about this and gives his tips on how to deal with nasty comments online that might make you feel self-conscious or sad.
The first thing to do is to stay calm - reading mean words online can get the best of us and it’s never a good idea to act on the spur of the moment, especially if you’re feeling angry.
- Do you think you need help calming down your nerves? Then check out this meditation guide to help you relax.
After you’ve calmed down, try to think about the situation and focus on the positive messages that you receive instead. It’s so easy to see the dark side of things sometimes, but if you take a moment to just breathe and find your peace, it will be much easier to see all the support and the love you can get online.
However, if the comments get really nasty and you feel offended and bullied, then it’s time to talk to a trusted adult who can help you deal with whatever's going on.
Check out this article if you want to find out how to report issues on social media.
And lastly just remember that when someone says something offensive online, and offline, this says more about them than you!
This content was filmed in January 2020.
