Cyber bullying among children aged 11 to 15 has risen to 16 percent in 2022, up from 13 percent four years ago, according to a recent report by WHO Europe covering 44 countries.
According to the study titled “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children,” 15 percent of boys and 16 percent of girls reported experiencing cyberbullying at least once in recent months. The pandemic has exacerbated the issue, with virtual forms of peer violence becoming more prevalent during lockdowns.
WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, emphasizes the need for collective efforts to combat bullying and violence in all forms.
While cyberbullying rates have surged, other forms of bullying have remained relatively stable, with a slight increase in school bullying reported by 11 percent of boys and girls. Despite efforts to address the issue, the study highlights the profound implications of even small changes in bullying rates, especially considering adolescents’ extensive screen time.
REGIONAL DISPARITIES AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS
The report identifies regional disparities in cyberbullying rates, with the highest levels observed in countries like Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova, and Poland. Additionally, while parents’ socioeconomic status generally had little impact on children’s behavior, Canada stood out, where less advantaged youths were more likely to experience bullying.
CALL TO ACTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The WHO report underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and investment in monitoring and addressing cyberbullying. It advocates for comprehensive education for young people, families, and schools on the implications of cyberbullying, alongside regulatory measures to limit exposure on social media platforms.
As cyberbullying continues to pose significant challenges to adolescent well-being, immediate action is imperative. By fostering awareness, implementing effective interventions, and promoting responsible online behavior, stakeholders can work together to create safer digital environments for young people across Europe and beyond.
KEY FINDINGS
- Involvement in peer violence varied across countries in Europe, central Asia and Canada.
- Boys reported higher rates of perpetrating violence (bullying others at school or online and involvement in fighting).
- No systematic age patterns were evident with regards to involvement in bullying and cyberbullying, but a significant decrease for fighting with increasing age was seen in more than half of the countries and regions.
- On average, 6% of adolescents reported they had bullied others at school at least 2–3 times a month in the past couple of months (8% of boys and 5% of girls).
- Around one in 10 (11%) boys and girls reported they had been bullied at school at least 2–3 times a month in the past couple of months.
- The prevalence of adolescents who reported that they bullied others at school remained relatively stable since 2018, following a slight decline observed among boys between 2014 and 2018.
- Bullying victimization also did not change substantially in absolute terms over time, but a slight increase was observed among younger girls.
- One in eight adolescents reported cyberbullying others at least once or twice in the past couple of months (14% of boys and 9% of girls). This represents a slight increase from 2018.
- Overall, 15% of adolescents reported being cyberbullied at least once or twice in the past couple of months (15% of boys and 16% of girls).
- In most countries and regions in which age differences were observed, cyberbullying victimization peaked at age 11 for boys and 13 for girls.
- One in 10 adolescents reported having been involved in physical fights at least three times in the last 12 months (14% of boys and 6% of girls).