Cyberbullying is using digital technologies to bully people online, and it occurs on social media platforms, as well as over mobile phones, gaming platforms and messaging platforms (UNICEF). Online harassment is where a person is subjected to abusive behaviour through social media and other platforms, email and messaging.
Unfortunately, cyberbullying and online harassment are not uncommon:
- According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 847,000 children aged 10 to 15 years (19.1%) have experienced online bullying behaviour in the last year. They found that the most common online bullying behaviour was being called names, sworn at or insulted and having nasty messages about them sent to them.
- An international study and report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found that there has been an increase in school-aged children experiencing cyberbullying than before the pandemic (BBC News).
- The Anti-Bullying Alliance has more data on the prevalence of online bullying here.
Cyberbullying and online harassment can significantly impact young people’s mental health and have many psychological effects, such as:
- Loneliness and social isolation because of a lack of peer acceptance and worry about further attacks and abuse.
- Sadness, hopelessness, despair, and erosion of self-esteem and self-worth due to harmful comments and messages.
- Ongoing stress, depression, and anxiety from the emotional toll of being targeted and constant fear of attacks.
- Social withdrawal, as young people worry about what others think or say about them.
- Self-harm, suicide ideation and suicidal behaviours due to the emotional and psychological pain. Unfortunately, there have been many tragic examples of young people taking their own lives because of cyberbullying.
An inquiry into the impact of cyberbullying on young people’s mental health found that children and young people with mental health problems were more than three times more likely to have experienced online bullying in a year.
Overall, being subjected to bullying and abuse online can affect young people’s physical and mental health and overall well-being and impact their academic outcomes and overall life.
The National Bullying Helpline has further information on cyberbullying here.
