Cyberbullying

Disputes are part of child development. Children and young people learn how to deal with conflicts and find solutions. However, digital media can lead to arguments getting worse. Cyberbullying is affecting more and more children and young people. This makes it all the more important to raise your child’s awareness of respectful online behavior and to help them deal with online conflicts. In this article, we explain what you can do as a parent.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying means that people are insulted, exposed or threatened online, for example via apps such as TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp or Instagram.

There are different roles: the victims, the active bullies, but also the silent bystanders and assistants who join in. Many children and young people take on several of these roles, sometimes without realizing it. Cyberbullying can take many forms:

• Insults or threats in messages or comments
• Exclusion from groups or chats
• Spreading rumors or private information
• Embarrassing photos or videos shared without consent
• Identity theft and fake profiles
• Use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake images or videos, so-called deepfakes

As digital content can be stored and redistributed, a single post can have long-term effects. Attackers can often hide behind their anonymity.

Why does cyberbullying occur?

There are many reasons why children and young people bully others:

• Boredom or the desire to make a name for yourself
• Peer pressure and the need to belong
• Revenge or the feeling of having to defend yourself
• Lack of awareness of the consequences
• The feeling of being braver online than in real life

New technologies such as deepfake software have exacerbated cyberbullying. Young people sometimes use them out of curiosity or to deliberately expose others.

The consequences of cyberbullying

Bullying has been around since before the invention of the internet. But whereas in the past a child could come home after school and switch off, today children and young people are constantly connected to each other. Conflicts from school continue in class chats or on social media platforms. This is why cyberbullying can have serious consequences. Children who are bullied online often feel helpless and abandoned. In the long term, it can lead to anxiety, sleep disorders, depressive moods or even suicidal thoughts. Statistics show that almost half of young people have already experienced cyberbullying. According to the JIM Study 2024, 11% of young people have experienced cyberbullying directly in the last month.

What can parents do?

When children and young people communicate with each other, there are always times when insults are used. This does not have to be bullying, but is often just a joke. They use it to test how far they can go. However, this limit is different for every child.

Parents can do a lot to ensure that their child communicates respectfully and is safer online:

• Have open conversations: Regularly ask what your child is doing on the Internet, who they are in contact with and what experiences they are having there.
• Encourage empathy: Explain to your child that insults are also hurtful on the Internet and that there are limits.
• Use safety functions: Use the parental control settings in devices and apps and explain to your child how they can block or report people.
• Set limits: Younger children in particular should only be allowed to communicate online with a limited number of people. Set up the smartphone more securely together with your child and adjust the settings to your child’s level of development.
• Take changes in behavior seriously: If your child withdraws, seems sad or tense, this may be a sign of cyberbullying.

Good prevention starts early. Parents should talk to their children about how to use the internet competently before they become active on social media. For primary school children, there are programs such as the learning offer Genial digital run by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, which teach media skills in a fun way. The cyberbullying first aid app from klicksafe helps young people to deal with conflicts online.

Schools can also help by setting clear rules against (online) bullying and providing information. Parents can, for example, encourage teachers to integrate digital learning modules or videos from the Wake Up Initiative, including those from the FSM, into lessons.

What should I do if my child is affected?

If your child is affected by cyberbullying, you should remain calm and make it clear to them that it is not their fault. You can then take the following steps together:

1. Preserve evidence: Take screenshots of the offending content (except for illegal content such as hardcore pornography).
2. Report bullying on the platform: Social media apps have reporting functions to remove offensive content. Complaints offices can also be contacted.
3. Talk to the school: If the bullying comes from classmates, the school can help.
4. Seek external help: Many counseling platforms such as Nummer gegen Kummer or Juuuport offer anonymous counseling for children, young people and parents.
5. Take legal action in an emergency: Threats, defamation or identity theft may be punishable by law. If necessary, a report can be made to the police. You can find help online, for example at the online police watchdogs and Hate Aid.

Cyberbullying is a serious challenge for children and young people. However, parents can do a lot to empower their children, educate them and stand by them when problems arise. Make use of the support services, stay in contact with your child and advocate for a safe and respectful online world.