Cyberbullying: A digital drama in schools threatens our children!

Cyberbullying: A digital drama in schools threatens our children!

In today's digital world, cyberbullying is becoming increasingly important. A current case from Heinsberg illustrates the shocking effects that can have such incidents on adolescents. The 14-year-old Jan and the 13-year-old Mia used to be a couple and communicated a lot about WhatsApp. After the young couple separated, a lascivious photo of Mia spread in the class chat, which caused almost the entire school to see the picture. This not only damaged Mia's reputation, it is also bullied at school and suffers from feelings of guilt and pubic.

chief criminal commissioner Alexandra Grates explains that cyberbullying can already affect elementary school students, which increases the risks in a time when many children have smartphones early on. Cyberbullying can arise from thoughtless behaviors and sharing personal information. The psychologist warns that there can be bullying -like situations that are triggered online by sharing embarrassing moments. The dark side of the Internet draws envy, jealousy, anger and urge for what the affected people can overthrow into serious psychological difficulties.

serious consequences of cyberbullying

The effects of cyberbullying are not limited to the direct sacrificial group. According to the Alliance against Cybermbling it can even lead to suicidal thoughts in extreme cases. The "Cyberlife V Study" has shown that almost a quarter of the cyberbullying victims-around 500,000 students-have suicidal thoughts. Around 13 % of those affected grabbed alcohol or tablets in desperation. These alarming numbers illustrate the urgency of educational and prevention measures in schools.

Grates emphasizes that the Internet is not a legal space. Jan's case is particularly serious because he committed a serious crime by spreading child pornographic material. It is therefore crucial that young people learn to deal with their data carefully and are aware of whom they give an insight into their privacy. Furthermore, cyberbullying must not only be regarded as a school, but as a social problem.

prevention work and education

The clarification of cyberbullying is essential. Children have to be informed about how they can behave online to protect themselves. Parents play a central role here. You must be ready to exchange ideas with your children about the dangers of the Internet and to support them in dealing with social media. The chief criminal commissioner recommends sharing less personal data on the Internet and observing the security settings in social networks.

A study by the Have already had experience with cyberbullying, whereby girls seem more affected. The gender difference in bullying behavior is also significant: boys tend to be aggressive, while girls are increasingly involved in cyberbullying. All of these findings make it clear that the need for action in schools and society generally increases.