What is cyberbullying?
A new form of violence has emerged. Affected children and adolescents are under attack around the clock — currently mostly via messengers like WhatsApp. They cannot escape the systematic, malicious harassment, nor can they directly defend themselves. In addition, insults, taunts and public shaming remain visible online for everyone and spread uncontrollably and rapidly.
One in eightAdolescents between ten and 21 years old are said, according to a non-representative survey by the 'Alliance against Cyberbullying', to have already been bullied online. The same number said they had bullied others themselves.
In another study even one in three schoolchildren saw themselves as victims of cyberbullying. The bullying attacks can lead to depression, anxiety disorders, sleep problems, school failure and social withdrawal. In the worst case, children try to take their own lives. One in five affected individuals is said to have already thought about it.
What parents need to know
It can affect anyone:
Shy loners as well as children with visible illnesses or high-achieving students.
They know each other:
In the vast majority of cases perpetrators and victims know each other personally. The perpetrators are often particularly popular classmates who use bullying to demonstrate their power.
Suddenly different?
If your usually cheerful teenager suddenly hides away listlessly and quietly in their room and refuses to go to school because of alleged illness, bullying could be the cause.
Investigate:
If you as a mother or father suspect that your child has become a victim of cyberbullying, raise the subject gently. If your child does not want to confide in you out of fear or shame, you can try to get in touch with their best friend.
Take action!
Don't let the issue rest.
Look for solutions together:
Talk to your child about possible solutions. Involve them in further steps.
At school?
If your child is bullied by classmates, talk to the class teacher and the school administration. Together, seek a conversation with the perpetrator.
Secure evidence:
Document the relevant content in the form of screenshots. Report these and the originators of the bullying attacks to the service providers, have the content removed and block the users.
Go to the police,
if your child is being seriously threatened.
Online help:
Initial counseling is available, for example, at the online portal www.juuuport.de, a nationwide expert portal with psychologists. Young people can find tips against cyberbullying at www.handysektor.de
Discover more articles on parenting & psychology
Image credits
Girl sits on the floor with her head in her lap and her arms crossed © Antonioguillem - stock.adobe.com
Boy sits sadly on the stairs and 4 children laugh behind him © WavebreakMediaMicro - stock.adobe.com
Girl looks sadly at her phone © Photographee.eu - stock.adobe.com