Cyberbullying has become one of the most serious threats in the modern digital world. Research by Amnesty International from February 2023 shows that this phenomenon affects an increasing number of people, with young women and girls being particularly vulnerable. Those experiencing online violence often face a sense of helplessness, and systemic solutions prove to be insufficient. In this article, we present key information about this phenomenon.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying refers to all forms of aggression and harassment using digital technologies, such as the internet, social media, messaging apps, or mobile phones. It includes actions aimed at intimidating, humiliating, ridiculing, or harming another person, for example, through name-calling, distributing compromising materials, threats, spreading false information, or excluding from online groups. Parents of children and teenagers should be particularly sensitive to the phenomenon of violence, as these groups spend the most time in the virtual world. This is necessary, especially in the context of parents’ tendency to downplay these threats – as indicated by the study Teens 3.0, there is a misconception among parents that their children have certainly not experienced cyberbullying.
Scale of the phenomenon
Research on the scale of the phenomenon indicates that it is widespread – it has been experienced by 20% to even 50% of young people. Difficulties in accurately determining the number of victims arise, among other things, from the fact that there is no crime of cyberbullying, and police statistics on acts such as identity theft, defamation, harassment – can also be committed offline, hence these ambiguities. Among the most common types of online violence, one can distinguish, among others:
- flaming – this is the exchange of aggressive messages via internet communicators.
- cyberbullying – involves systematically harassing the victim by sending offensive SMS messages, emails, or social media posts. It may also include threats, sharing compromising content, and stalking in virtual environments such as online games.
- masquerade – is the act of creating fake accounts online to harm another person.
- trolling – a form of harassment that involves posting negative, provocative comments about the victim. It may also include manipulating their photos, personal data, and posting offensive content on their behalf.
- flood – involves mass sending of repetitive or different messages to fill the inbox and hinder the victim’s communication.
- sexting – sending and exchanging erotic materials to humiliate or blackmail a person.
- patostreaming – live broadcasts on the internet, e.g., on YouTube, showing pathological behaviors such as violence, aggression, alcohol, or drug consumption. Creators often receive payment from viewers for performing further controversial actions.
- sextortion – blackmail involving extorting intimate materials and then threatening to make them public if the victim does not meet certain demands, such as paying money or providing more content.
- sharenting – the phenomenon of excessively posting photos and information about children by parents on social media. This can lead to the misuse of photos by unwanted individuals or cause the child to feel shame and discomfort.
- dangerous internet challenges – among children and adolescents, internet challenges documented on social media have gained great popularity. Unfortunately, some of them are extremely risky (e.g., encouraging suicide, self-harm) and can lead to tragedy.
As part of the Polish Safer Internet Program campaign, NASK prepared an illustration with advice on how to help a person experiencing cyberbullying. It is ready for download here.
How to counteract?
A key element in countering cyberbullying is education and communication. Parents and teachers should make young internet users aware of what cyberbullying is, what forms it takes, and how perpetrators operate. It is also important for victims to know where to seek help in a threatening situation. Fear and shame can make a victim feel helpless, especially if they previously trusted the perpetrator by sharing their data or materials. Proper education can help children avoid feelings of guilt and show them ways to solve the problem.
If you have experienced cyberbullying and are looking for support, check our help map.
It is equally important to raise awareness that online activity is not anonymous, and inappropriate behavior can lead to serious consequences. This can help not only victims who decide to report the problem but also serve as a warning to potential perpetrators. It is worth ensuring that children know the laws regarding cyberbullying and are aware that there are services in Poland that deal with combating such phenomena. Crimes related to cyberbullying, such as defamation, identity theft, criminal threats, or harassment, are included in the Penal Code and can result in legal proceedings. In the case of juvenile offenders, the matter is considered by a family court, while individuals over the age of 17 bear criminal responsibility. Penalties for cyberbullying can include a wide range of measures – from warnings to probation supervision or placing the perpetrator in a rehabilitation facility, and in the case of adults – even in a penal institution. The aim of educating about these consequences is not to scare children but to show them that actions online have real effects and do not end after logging out of the Internet.
