That was the message from Canberra High's activities for the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, just one of the events across the ACT on Friday when more than 16,500 students were encouraged to take a stand.

After a focus on respectful relationships as part of last year's day of action, this year's campaign aimed to stamp out cyber bullying.

The students demonstrated to their peers how hurtful rumours could spread as easily as a beach ball being thrown around a crowd.

Education minister Joy Burch acknowledged the 24/7 nature of cyber bullying made it hard to escape but she said it could be combatted by teaching students about the "exits".

"When I was a student there was no such thing as online bullying, I didn't have a smartphone or a computer," she told the students.

"We don't accept bullying at school, out on the street or at the shopping centre and we won't take it online."

She welcomed the appointment of children's e-safety commissioner Alastair MacGibbon and moves to fine social media companies up to $17,000 each day if they failed to remove offensive material.

"We have seen or heard of offensive posts online and up until now it's been problematic about how to remove them… I think it's about catching up," she said.

Ms Burch acknowledged the rough and tumble of politics could appear as bullying to some.

"There is a point that politicians have to be responsible for their own actions and be aware of the broader community view of the hostility that is sometimes experienced in the chamber," she said.

"I don't subscribe to that level of hostility, yes there's theatre of politics but there's good manners in politics."

The students watched a video prepared by students from several high schools as part of the ACT Safe Online conference.

Ms Burch said the key to turning the messages into action was student activism and the day of action provided an opportunity to look at new programs and initiatives.