In the past few weeks there have been a number of disturbing cases of cyber bullying and harassment involving the micro-blogging website Twitter.

Both Charlotte Dawson (Australia’s Next Top Model judge) and Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers NRL captain) have been on the receiving end of distasteful and inappropriate messages via Twitter.

Farah has called upon Prime Minister Julia Gillard to tighten social media laws, and this has been endorsed by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has also previously called for tougher legal powers to combat cyber bullying.

Experts have confirmed iCyberSafe.com’s advice on dealing with cyber bullying:

• block the attacker;
• do not respond to their taunts;
• report the abuse.