In an increasingly digital age, cyberbullying has arisen as a widespread problem among adolescents, with recent age Health Organization (WHO) studies raising concerns.
According to a WHO Europe study of 44 countries, 16% of children aged 11 to 15 experienced cyberbullying in 2022, up from 13% four years ago.
Cyberbullying, the use of digital platforms to harass, threaten, or degrade others, has increased significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the virtual world became the primary way of engagement for many.
According to the study “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children,” 15% of boys and 16% of girls had been cyberbullied at least once in the last several months. The change to online contacts has raised awareness and concern about virtual forms of peer violence.
The frequency of cyberbullying varies by area and gender. The highest amounts were discovered among boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova, and Poland, while the lowest levels were seen in Spain.
Interestingly, the study discovered that parents’ socioeconomic level had minimal influence on their children’s encounters with cyberbullying, with the striking exception of Canada, where less advantaged youngsters reported greater rates of bullying.
Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, highlights the importance of raising awareness and taking action to address this rising issue. He emphasizes the significance of monitoring various forms of peer violence and teaching youth, families, and schools about the dangers of cyberbullying. Additionally, there is an urgent need to control social media sites in order to restrict exposure to such hazardous activity.
Cyberbullying is on the rise, and society must address and prevent violence in the digital era. With adolescents spending up to six hours a day online, even minor changes in bullying rates can have a big influence on their health and well-being. It is critical to create a safer online environment and provide individuals with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively tackle cyberbullying.