What is cyberbullying and how do I recognise it?

Cyberbullying (or online bullying) is the intentional and repeated harm to an individual through online media, such as through a mobile phone or the internet. It consists of aggressive behaviours aimed at causing distress or harming victims by sending intimidating or harassing text messages or emails, distributing derogatory photos, blackmailing the recipient, posting embarrassing content or mounting personal attacks on social networks, or even hijacking an entire profile or account. Unfortunately, anyone can easily become a target of cyberbullying and negative content or remarks posted online can circulate quickly as a result of options to forward and share.

This form of bullying is also much more insidious because the victim can be abused in the safety and privacy of their home, and there is often no escape. Also, it may not always be clear who the perpetrator is – they may be anonymous or be operating with a false profile or identity. Cyberbullying can be committed by someone completely unknown, but it can also be instigated by peers or classmates of the victim.

Perpetrators may have various reasons for engaging in cyberbullying: it may be an act of revenge or a result of boredom, an attempt to draw attention to themselves, a desire to control someone, or it could be something that just started as a joke or inappropriate comment that “got out of hand”. However, cyberbullying is a serious matter with harsh consequences, and sometimes those consequences cannot be undone. It may also be that the perpetrator is a victim themselves, resorting to similar behaviour in order to ease their pain rather than taking a different approach in response. 

Signs that children or young people could potentially be victims of cyberbullying can vary from one situation to another, but common signs include loss of appetite, disturbed sleep or poor concentration. Equally, victims may appear sad, have mood swings, or talk about hurting themselves. Moreover, children could suddenly become aggressive, or complain of ailments such as headaches or stomach aches.

And what about the psychological effects?

Although this type of bullying does not involve physical confrontation between the perpetrator and the victim, it is certainly harmful to the psychological and emotional development of children and young people. Victims may respond differently of course, but the most common psychological consequences of cyberbullying include neurotic problems, increased aggressive behaviour, fear and stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), lower self-esteem, various sleep disorders, depression or depressive states, increased risk of suicide, or general mental instability.

Prevention is key

You can never be too careful! Therefore, you should always think about what and where you publish or share content, and what you share with whom. In various forums or chats, it’s a good idea to use nicknames instead of real names, which will prevent a possible perpetrator from easily recognising a target. Be careful not to share sensitive data, such as mobile phone numbers, home addresses or other identifying information.

It's also important to have a strong password for online accounts, which should always be unique. It should contain numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and often some special characters too. Something in the style of yourname123 is definitely not a strong password and can easily be cracked.

Another piece of advice is not to believe everything that someone writes on the internet. Under the guise of anonymity online, people are often not who they appear to be. There is nothing to compare reality with and, for the most part, it is almost impossible to distinguish true information from lies online. Hence, it is very easy to trick users.

When commenting on other people‘s content, think carefully about what you write or say, and consider how it might be perceived by others. We all have different personal boundaries and what might be considered fun or okay for you could be hurtful to someone else. 

What about when someone is facing cyberbullying?

Parents definitely have a fundamental role in tackling cyberbullying. Listen to your children, do not be afraid to talk to them about their feelings, and show them support and understanding. Reassure them that you can handle everything together, no matter what happens.

Much also depends on the atmosphere at school – can students talk to their teachers about what is bothering them? Do students have lectures on mutual respect? Are conflict resolution strategies included in the curriculum?

Tips for children, young people and parents

Do you have friends around you who you trust and could tell about what's going on? You may find that you are not the only one in this situation. And what about your parents and carers or teachers? You could come up with a plan to tackle cyberbullying together so that you won't have to face it alone, which is always harder. You can't blame someone for hurting you, and it's not your fault either. However, the issue needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If you cannot confide in anyone, you can always call special telephone lines where professionals who know a lot about online bullying can advise you on what to do. In the Czech Republic, for example, you can contact the Safety Line 116 111, which is anonymous, free of charge and operates 24 hours a day. Or, if you‘d prefer to type instead of speaking on the phone, you can write to the chat or send an e-mail. 

For parents and carers, there is the dedicated Parental Line 602 021 021. You can also contact the online counselling centre of the E-Safety project.

Other European countries have similar helpline services.

A few more tips for dealing with cyberbullying

• Don't react further to the aggressor and instead end all contact with them. Sometimes, they might stop when they see that there is no response or reaction.
• Don't be afraid to tell an adult. There‘s a better chance that they will know what to do and where to seek help to assist you in resolving the situation. In addition, in the Czech Republic, your school is obliged to investigate and deal with reports of cyberbullying, as are the police. 
• Block offenders using the tools provided on your mobile phone and on online accounts. Prevent the aggressor from reaching you.
• Keep the evidence. Copies of everything teh aggressor has done (messages, pictures, and so on) can be especially useful if a report is made to the police.
• If the situation is serious and the perpetrator still continues despite all these steps, do not hesitate to make a police report. By taking a stand against cyberbullying, you can prevent others from also suffering in the future!

Read the original article on the Linka Bezpečí blog. Additionally, you can find related tips on how to deal with cyberbullying on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) portal.

Find out more about the work of the Czech Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.