In an era where TikTok posts can spiral into humiliation rituals, online bullying has become one of the most painful realities for young people. What starts as a “joke” or a group chat gone wrong can turn into harassment that spreads across screens and schools in a matter of seconds. Parents see the emotional toll it takes on their children but often have no idea what steps to take or how to make schools respond.
Across Spokane County, families are learning that when online cruelty spills into classrooms, it’s not just “drama.” It can be a violation of Washington state law known as Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB).
Under state law (RCW 28A.600.477), schools are required to investigate and document any behavior that harms, humiliates or threatens a student whether it happens in person or online. This includes instances of social media harassment or the use of slurs and stereotypes targeting a student’s race, gender or disability. But too often, these incidents are ignored or handled informally with no paper trail.
Cyberbullying is especially common in local districts where students often share posts on private Snapchat stories or “confession” pages that mock classmates. In 2024, Central Valley and Spokane Public Schools both dealt with incidents involving racist memes and hateful language circulated among students. Some of those cases led to suspensions, but others quietly disappeared once the posts were deleted. Without a formal HIB report, there was no investigation and no follow-up.
For parents trying to intervene, the process can feel confusing and bureaucratic. Each district has a designated HIB officer and online reporting form–usually found under ‘Students & Families’ or ‘Safety’ on their websites. After a complaint is filed, schools are required to respond promptly, interview those involved and outline steps to prevent further harm. If that doesn’t happen, families can appeal to the district or even the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
Documentation, advocates say, is everything. Screenshots, messages, dates and names help establish a record. Without it, cases risk being dismissed as misunderstandings. The Spokane NAACP’s toolkit outlines how to document evidence, where to find each district’s reporting form, and what schools must do after a complaint is submitted.
The Washington State Office of Education Ombuds encourages families to report early, even if they’re unsure whether an incident meets the threshold for HIB. “You don’t need to prove everything,” their website explains. “You just need to describe what’s happening so the school can investigate.”
But even with laws in place, the line between free speech and harassment remains murky. Students sometimes claim that hateful comments fall under “freedom of expression.” Yet courts have long recognized limits to that argument especially when speech disrupts learning or targets protected identities. Schools have a duty to step in when speech becomes threatening, demeaning and/or persistent.
This issue also intersects with special education. Students with IEPs or disabilities are disproportionately targeted by bullying and are often punished instead of supported. Advocacy groups like the Spokane NAACP Education Committee have pointed out that disciplinary action can mask deeper issues of exclusion and bias. When discipline replaces empathy, the harm intensifies.
Parents and students need to know that they have rights and that silence only deepens the problem. If a child is being mocked or threatened online, it’s not over once the post disappears. Screens may be temporary, but the impact isn’t. A formal report can be the difference between ongoing harm and meaningful action.
“Complaining isn’t enough,” the committee says. “We have to be organized, informed, and united.”
In these murky waters of online cruelty, knowing how to speak up and where to file complaints might just be the lifeline a student needs.
Birdie Bachman is an intern for the Spokane NAACP Education Commitee.