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Global Study Reveals Over One Third Of Children Experience Cyberbullying

In light of the survey, UNICEF have called for urgent action from all sectors to do more about the problem. Measures being called for include training for teachers, more support resources and the advancement of ethical standards and practices of social media platforms. If you are affected by any kind of online negativity, we can help. You can follow the links to our various support services throughout the article or click on the blue logo icon at the bottom right of the screen to start using Cybersmile Assistant, our smart AI support assistant.

A recent global survey has revealed that over thirty-percent of young people have experienced cyberbullying in one form or another.

Over 170,000 13 to 24-year-olds took part in the survey from 30 different countries including, India, Indonesia, Ukraine, Zimbabwe and Vietnam. Figures from the survey also indicated that three quarters of young people identified Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter as the most common places for online bullying.

Researchers felt that the results of the survey also challenged existing views that cyberbullying in schools was an exclusively high-income issue. In fact, results from respondents in sub-Saharan Africa showed thirty-four percent had been bullied online and that thirty-nine percent knew of online groups of classmates that distributed information being used to bully others.

“All over the world, young people in both high and low-income countries are telling us that they are being bullied online, that it is affecting their education, and that they want it to stop.”

Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF

According to the survey, conducted by the The United Nations Children’s Fund, participants were evenly divided in their opinion of who they felt was responsible for addressing the problem of cyberbullying. Thirty-two percent thought that governments should deal with it, while thirty-one percent felt that it was up to internet users and twenty-nine percent saying internet companies should be held accountable.

“The results of this important survey show how this problem is affecting large numbers of young people regardless of their location. It also underlines the importance of developing collaborations between nations and internet stakeholders to address the issues effectively, from a global perspective.”

Dan Raisbeck, Co-founder, The Cybersmile Foundation

Following the survey, UNICEF have called for urgent action from all sectors to address the problem. Steps being called for include more training for teachers to deal with cyberbullying, more support resources and helplines for the victims, more research to help understand the problem and the advancement of ethical standards and practices of social media platforms.

If you are affected by any kind of online negativity, we can help you. Visit our Cyberbullying Help Center or click on the blue logo icon at the bottom right of the screen to open Cybersmile Assistant, our smart AI support assistant. For further information about Cybersmile and the work we do, please explore the following suggestions:

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