Cyberbullying on the rise - how to tackle it

Cyberbullying is affecting more and more people and is particularly prevalent among girls. A new study from the University of Gävle shows how cyberbullying affects students in Swedish primary schools and how school staff can act to reduce the problems.

Since 2016, cyberbullying has increased significantly. According to the latest reports from 2024, around one in six school-age children in Europe are victims of cyberbullying.

Bullying often takes place via social media and the increase is clearly linked to the rise of Snapchat and TikTok. It is difficult to detect but can lead to long-term negative consequences for the mental health and schooling of those affected.

- The consequences of cyberbullying are not as visible as those of physical bullying, making it harder for the perpetrator to see and understand the damage being done. "Exclusion is common, groups are formed where some people are not allowed to join, and in Snapchat you can see who is with whom via the map function, and it's easy to think 'why can't I join'. We researchers have also seen that it is common with AI-created videos that are spread where faces have been replaced with the purpose of teasing and bullying," says Davoud Masoumi, associate professor of education at the University of Gävle and the study's main author.

The role of teachers is crucial

The study interviewed 25 school employees, including teachers, principals and school health professionals. The results highlight the importance of collaboration between school staff, pupils and parents in tackling cyberbullying. How school staff deal with cyberbullying is crucial, says Davoud Masoumi:

- "There are cases where the victimized child raised the alarm without the teacher listening, and where it ended in suicide. Teachers play a central role in children's development and trained teachers understand that their mission is bigger than just teaching. Relationships between children and school staff need to be clear and open, and teachers should also work to build strong bonds between children. If children do not know each other well enough, the risk of bullying increases.

It is important that all school staff are supported in tackling bullying as many staff may feel that the responsibility for tackling bullying is not always clearly defined in their job descriptions.

- A culture of 'one for all, all for one' should be promoted, with each member of staff actively contributing to the detection, management and prevention of these situations. By creating such a common approach, the school's ability to provide a safe and inclusive environment can be further strengthened," says Davoud Masoumi.

"Social media manipulates behavior"

Girls are particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying, which often takes the form of rumors and social exclusion. Researchers are not sure what causes this, and further studies are needed.

- One explanation could be that bullying is reinforced by social norms online, where girls are objectified and often compare themselves to others and try to live up to false expectations of appearance and status. "But we need more research on why more and more girls are more vulnerable to cyberbullying, the same trend is not found among boys," says Davoud Masoumi.

Recently, it was announced that Australia has introduced a law against social media for children under 16. Davoud Masoumi wants to see clear regulation in Sweden too, combined with educational measures.

- "Social media manipulates our behavior and we know that it is not good for children's development. Children must be given the opportunity to explore but there must also be limits. We don't let children try drugs that we also know are harmful, to take one example," says Davoud Masoumi.

The study identified seven strategies that schools can use to reduce cyberbullying:

1. Systematic school surveys to identify bullying patterns. One example is the Gävle model, a survey run by Gävle municipality, the schools in Gävleborg county, and University of Gävle, which is conducted twice a year in the county's schools.
2. Strengthen relationships between students and school staff. Creating close relationships between teachers and children is an important factor. Teachers play a crucial role in children's development and if the relationship is strong, bullying is reduced.
3. Team building activities that promote inclusion in student groups.
4. Increased cooperation with parents to raise awareness of children's digital behaviors.
5. Using the expertise ofthe school health team to identify and prevent bullying
6. Training school staff in digital literacy and identification of cyberbullying
7. Designing specific interventions for girls who are often victims of more subtle bullying