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 defend themselves directly. 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 proportion reported having bullied others.
In another study, as many as 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 may attempt suicide. One in five victims is said to have already thought about it.
What parents need to know
It can happen to anyone:
Shy loners as well as children with visible illnesses or high-achieving students.
They often know each other:
In the vast majority of cases, perpetrators and victims know each other personally. The perpetrators are often especially popular classmates who want to demonstrate their power through bullying.
Suddenly different?
If your usually cheerful teenager suddenly withdraws listlessly and quietly into their room and, claiming to be ill, refuses to go to school, bullying could be the cause.
Investigate:
If you as a mother or father suspect that your child has become a victim of cyberbullying, address the issue gently. If your child is unwilling to confide in you out of fear or shame, you can try to make contact with their best friend.
Take action!
Don't let the issue go unresolved.
Seek solutions together:
Talk to your child about possible solutions. Involve them in further actions.
At school?
If your child is being bullied by classmates, speak with the class teacher and the school administration. Together, seek a conversation with the perpetrator.
Preserve evidence:
Document the relevant content in the form of screenshots. Report these and the authors 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
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Image credits
Girl sits on the floor with her head in her lap and arms crossed © Antonioguillem - stock.adobe.com
Boy sits sadly on the stairs and behind him 4 children are laughing © WavebreakMediaMicro - stock.adobe.com
Girl looks sadly at her phone © Photographee.eu - stock.adobe.com