«It was just a joke» – what can be done to tackle cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying amongst young people often gets somewhat overshadowed by headlines about hate speech, the subject of my last column. From time to time, the media highlights individual cases. However, the comprehensive German «Cyberlife» study from 2024 shows just how widespread this problem is. Of the 4,000 young people surveyed, 18 per cent said they had been bullied at some point.

Although the relevant Swiss study (the James Study, 2024) did not explicitly ask about cyberbullying, 57 per cent of young people reported having been insulted or abused in private messages at some point over the last two years. Even if not all such incidents can be classified as bullying, young people are often rude and abusive towards one another.

The consequences of cyberbullying can be serious. Many victims react with anger and end up becoming bullies themselves.

The internet as an echo chamber

Cyberbullying is semi-public, visible to those around the victim at school and in sports clubs. It involves verbal abuse, ostracism, blackmail and threats, as well as the spreading of lies. And all of this takes place in full view of classmates and friends. There are always bystanders who fuel the bullying. Interestingly, the number of bullies is practically exactly the same as the number of those being bullied. It is not uncommon for bullies to be former victims themselves, seeking to get their own back on their tormentors.

On top of that, the internet is an echo chamber. In the «Cyber-life» study, 18 per cent of young people said they had imitated the questionable behaviour of others at some point.

The effects of cyberbullying can be serious. Many victims react with anger and become bullies themselves. Others are frightened and no longer want to go to school. Some even have suicidal thoughts. For some, drugs or alcohol offer what appears to be a way out. What almost all of them have in common is that they feel hurt and humiliated.

The happier young people are, the better they are able to cope with bullying.

The surroundings help you to relax

When it comes to the question of who, statistically speaking, is most frequently the victim of cyberbullying, this becomes a particularly relevant issue for parents. The James studies show that the happier young people are, the better they are able to cope with bullying attacks. Feeling secure within their family and circle of friends therefore boosts children's self-esteem and resilience, enabling them to put these attacks into perspective more effectively.

Here's a welcome statistic (at last!): according to the study, «family time» has increased massively. In 2010, 16 per cent of young people cited spending time with their family as a «leisure activity». By 2024, this figure had almost doubled to 29 per cent. Spending time with friends is now the favourite leisure activity for 70 per cent of young people. This gives cause for optimism about the future.

Cyberbullying needs an audience to be effective. Friends (particularly those of the bullies) and the school environment often have the power to nip cyberbullying in the bud. If nobody joins in the laughter, the bullying isn't «fun». If bullies face pushback («Don't be so mean»), their desire to be nasty usually fades quickly. We would therefore be well advised to expect our children to show moral courage and to support them in boldly expressing their critical views.