An integrated approach to understanding the relationship with the digital cannot be limited to evaluating the positive aspects of technologies, but must also analyze the risks associated with the internet. Among these, cyberbullying represents an often dramatic experience for many young users.
We are in 2024. Artificial intelligences are evolving at an exponential speed, we wear augmented reality headsets, we implant neural chips: viewed from this perspective, it feels like living in a science fiction movie. Projected on the path of technological progress, it is sometimes easy to forget the difficulties that have marked the growth of many of us, not because they necessarily belong to a resolved past, but simply because we personally consider it a closed chapter.
Certain abuses may not have directly affected us. Perhaps it was our classmate or our best friend who fell victim to more or less cruel pranks, stigmatizations, and verbal and physical violence. Back then, the web may not have existed, and we certainly did not spend hours on TikTok and BeReal, but looking back can help us find the analogies and differences with today’s cyberbullying.
In a previous article, we discussed the relationship between childhood and the digital; with this, we want to explore a phenomenon that, also due to an early online life and low media education, increasingly affects young users with increasingly serious consequences.
The specific characteristics of cyberbullying
Cyberbullying has seen significant growth as technologies and modes of interaction have evolved. Unlike bullying, it has characteristics that make it particularly sneaky, such as the anonymity of the aggressors, which allows you to act without fear of being identified or confronted directly. This lowers moral barriers and inhibits personal responsibility, favoring behaviors that are often even more harmful.
The platforms then offer simple and immediate tools to perpetrate attacks with great visibility. Younger people also have specific skills that further complicate supervision and intervention by parents and teachers who may be unaware of platforms and their mechanisms.
Another feature is the persistence of online information. Once published, content can remain accessible indefinitely, which extends over days, months and years, also given how difficult it is to remove the data. This persistence amplifies the trauma suffered by the victim, who finds himself having to live with the consequences even in the long term.
Some data on the phenomenon
According to a survey by the Observatory of Terre des Hommes and OneDay, cyberbullying tends to affect girls more than boys. The research, which involved more than 1700 young people between 14 and 26 years old throughout Italy, revealed that 65% of participants experienced violence, with 19% of these reporting episodes of cyberbullying.
According to the sample, cyberbullies would target physical appearance (79%), followed by sexual orientation (15%), economic status (11%), ethnic and geographical origin (10.5%), gender identity (9%), disability (5%), and religion (4%). The consequences of this violence are deep and lasting: 75% of young victims of these practices report a loss of self-esteem, security, and trust in others; 47% suffer from social anxiety and panic attacks; 45% report isolation and distancing from peers.
Forms of cyberbullying
This digital violence manifests itself in different forms. In fact, there is no single modus operandi that defines the phenomenon, but a constellation of activities in continuous evolution:
- Flaming: heated discussions and insults between two or more users on public platforms. These interactions, often very aggressive, can quickly degenerate into acts of extreme verbal violence.
- Happy Slapping: record and disseminate videos of real physical assaults. This practice combines physical violence and public humiliation, causing significant psychological damage.
- Impersonation: Using someone else’s identity to send malicious messages or posts. This form of abuse can destroy the victim’s reputation and create confusion among their contacts.
- Denigration: spreading false information or slander to damage a person’s reputation. This type of attack aims to socially isolate the victim, affecting his public image and personal relationships.
The A-B-C against cyberbullying
An integrated approach involving education, prevention and intervention is essential. Educating in the responsible and conscious use of digital must not be something relegated to a few hours made available by teachers, but inserted in a structured way with the support of specialized figures.
Even if these behaviors mainly concern the very young, when we do training we must not address only students. Adults must also be trained to recognize the signs and intervene promptly. The same should be said for those involved in the development of digital platforms, in order to promote the implementation of tools and policies to prevent and combat the phenomenon, ensuring the safety and well-being of all users.
Victims must be protected and receive adequate psychological and legal support to overcome the consequences of the violence suffered. It is therefore through a collective and multidisciplinary commitment, involving girls and boys, parents, teachers, as well as programmers and social platform managers, that the opportunity to create a safe and positive digital environment is offered.
Knowing to live well online
Cyberbullying is a challenge for digital well-being. Education, prevention and support are the keys to protecting and promoting a healthy and constructive use of technologies. Society today does not end in the streets, neighborhoods and squares but constantly intersects with wi-fi networks, wiring and electronic devices. This is why it is essential to work together, including on the web, for a safer and more inclusive digital society.
Cyberbullying is a crime, which is often expressed in a silent way, invisible to most, but which can create great suffering. Remembering this can help us create environments where every person can feel respected and protected