Together against cyberbullying
What is cyberbullying?
When someone is repeatedly and deliberately insulted, threatened, exposed or harassed by several people on the internet or via mobile phone, this is known as cyberbullying. For example, the perpetrators deliberately spread rumours and lies about a person in a chat or send around embarrassing pictures. Or they create a fake profile of the victim of bullying on social media and post nasty things there. Cyberbullying can happen on all kinds of platforms, for example on Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok or in group chats.
Why do perpetrators do this?
Some bully out of boredom or fun, others want to make a person angry or sad because they think they «deserve it» or are not cool enough. Bullies often remain anonymous. They behave much more ruthlessly and nastily than they would dare to under their real name or in direct contact. Cyberbullying often makes the victims feel very bad and can even make them ill. What is particularly bad for them is that they have no respite from the bullying anywhere: They hear everything via their smartphone and social media, no matter when or where.
You can find more information on this topic and tips on how to inform and support your child (even if they are the perpetrator), for example at Pro Juventute or at Jugendundmedien.ch.
Help from young people for young people is available in the «Cyberbullying First Aid App» for smartphones. In short video clips, those affected are given specific tips on how they can defend themselves against cyberbullying.
What can you do?
If you are a victim of cyberbullying, the following tips can help you:
- Stay calm and seek help: Don't respond to nasty messages in the first place. Confide in someone - it's much easier to do something about it together.
- Collect evidence: Take screenshots of messages, pictures or chats. This way you can still show later what was written or posted by whom.
- Block and report! Block the people who insult or harass you and report them to the platforms. If you can't get anywhere on your own, contact a counselling centre or go to the police together with an adult. Cyberbullying can also be a criminal offence!
- And also very important: if you realise that someone else is affected, don't join in or stand idly by, but try to help.
