Bullying and violence have always existed in one form or another, but (anonymous) violence online is becoming increasingly common. With the rise in the use of mobile technologies with permanent access to the internet, coupled with a sense of anonymity and lack of accountability, cyberviolence has been affecting a growing number of people.
According to a Debating Europe survey, more than 1 in 10 11-16 year-olds in the EU say they have been bullied online. A majority of those affected by bullying (55%) said that it caused them to become depressed, and more than one in three said they self-harmed – and even considered suicide – as a result.
Another survey shows that over the past few years, the percentage of children who encountered risk online increased from 48% to 52%. This increase occurs mainly among girls, children and teenagers. In this case the role of parents is important and a 2008 Eurobarometer survey shows that as many as 54% of European parents are worried that their child could be bullied online.
Please visit our resources page for more facts & figures on cyberviolence.
European Network Addressing Cyberviolence 