Hate speech on the net

«I got you a rope,» says the message Anna receives on WhatsApp in the evening. Later, there's news in the class chat: «Anna is the ugliest!» It goes on like this well into the night. Anna switches off her mobile phone, but it doesn't work with her thoughts - sleep is a long time coming.

When a person is deliberately insulted, threatened, exposed or harassed on the internet or via social media over a longer period of time, this is known as cyberbullying. Studies have shown that cyberbullying and other forms of bullying usually occur in parallel.

In other words, anyone who is a target on the internet is also a target in everyday school life. Cyberbullying is therefore not a new form of bullying, but an extended form of conventional bullying. Nevertheless, there are a few key differences:

• Cyberbullying creates distance from the victim: the perpetrators do not have to look them in the eye and can act anonymously. This disinhibits them and reinforces the victim's powerlessness.

• The audience can watch from anywhere.

• Cyberbullying leaves traces: videos, photos and hate comments can never be completely deleted.

• In the case of cyberbullying, experts advise contacting the parents of the perpetrators. Because if further lies and images find their way online, they are difficult to remove.

• Discuss the case with the class teacher and, if possible, with the school social services. Insist that the school also takes care of the case.

• Inform the police if the attacks do not stop immediately.

• Seek external help from victim or youth counselling centres.

Although there is no legal article on cyberbullying in Switzerland, "there are numerous provisions in the Swiss Criminal Code that make it possible to hold perpetrators accountable", the SKP states.

This is the case, for example, when online attacks constitute offences such as threats, coercion, defamation or slander. In addition, the age of criminal responsibility in Switzerland begins comparatively early at ten years of age.

The SKP advises parents and teachers to encourage children and young people to confide in adults in the event of cyberbullying, regardless of the incident, but also to inform them of the legal consequences that perpetrators can expect.