Primary: I’m not a victim
Even friends don’t treat each other well all the time.
On this page
What’s the issue?
Sometimes people who lack self-confidence can be treated badly, and feel that they have to agree to whatever is suggested by the others to stay friends with the group. Making people do things they don’t want to do is called ‘manipulation’. If you are often the victim of pranks and jokes you are being bullied. Being able to easily record and share images and video can keep the ‘joke’ going long after it would otherwise have been forgotten, and can mean many more people find out about it.
Why does it matter?
- Bullying by people you like and call ‘friends’ is much more hurtful and often harder for you to challenge.
- Once an image or video is uploaded it is public and can be used as evidence for legal action, even long after the event.
- Hanging around with people who make you feel bad about yourself damages your self-esteem and confidence.
- Other people will be affected by your actions—in how it impacts on them, and also in what they think of you.
Advice
Friends like you for who you are
- Make choices about what you do. It should be your decision.
- Friendships change over time, your friends should be people who you enjoy being around and are comfortable with.
Be known for what you do right
- If everyone only ever sees evidence of you doing dumb things they think that is all there is to know. Don’t be afraid to show that there is more to you than that.
- If people know that you like a range of things, more opportunities can open up for you.
Be prepared to say ‘No’
Group habits develop around what you do together and how you treat each other. These can change as you all get older and the membership of the group shifts over time. You don’t have to stay stuck in habits that aren’t good for you.
Printable advice sheet
To download a copy of the advice sheet, see:
- Primary: I’m not a victim (PDF, 129.19KB)(opens in a new window)
- Primary: I’m not a victim (RTF, 6.44KB)(opens in a new window)
Updated 26 March 2026
Related links
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide