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Cyberbullying rates in Ireland soared by '28% during lockdown'

The younger children were, the more likely they were to be victims, the study found.

CYBERBULLYING AMONG IRISH children has increased by 28% during the lockdown – among the highest rates in Europe.

A joint study between the European Commission and researchers at Dublin City University found rates were highest in Ireland, followed by Italy and Germany.

The younger children were, the more likely they were to become victims, the study found, with the problem particularly prevalent in young boys.

Tijana Milosevic, of the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre, said the results are higher than in previous studies.

She said: “Irish children are among the top frequency numbers in Europe that we have. That is worrying in and of itself.

“This was a survey that was done with children in 10 other European countries with children aged 10 to 18.

“We conducted research into their use of digital media but also their experience of risks and their exposure to different types of online harm, cyberbullying being one of those.

“We see a 28% increase in cyberbullying victimisation during the lockdown.”

The findings were presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Education to mark the UN International Day Against Violence and Bullying in Schools.

Overall, 49% of males had experienced significantly more frequent cyberbullying since lockdown.

About 66% of all children between 14 and 16 experienced significantly more cyberbullying compared with pre-lockdown on instant and private messaging services such as WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram.

Dr Milosevic said: “This is an increase compared to previous studies in Ireland, which have shown a cyberbullying victimisation rate of about 14% for primary schools and just under 10% for post-primary schools.

“There has been an increase, but it’s not as huge of a spike as we might have expected based on media reports we were seeing during the lockdown.”

8a4fe3e6-5096-4a8a-a5e1-92137bf6729b Tijana Milosevic

She said social media platforms had to do more as the lines between in-school bullying and cyberbullying become increasingly blurred.

“It’s different now, especially in the context of Covid, when a lot of the schooling has happened online – the line between school bullying and out-of-school bullying will become ever more blurry.

“It is extremely important to have a way to actually report and engage the platforms to assist cases when it does happen.”

Seline Keating, a professor and research fellow in anti-bullying studies at DCU, called for a single anti-bullying programme to be implemented in schools nationwide.

She warned that current measures, adopted in 2013, were not being fully implemented in some schools – particularly in relation to identity-based bullying such as homophobia and transphobia. 

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    Mute Brendan Brennan
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    Nov 5th 2020, 10:40 PM

    I seen Barnardos run a fantastic online safety programme for kids. They do it with schools and with parents, which I believe parents need to know more about this also. Here’s a link to it on their website…. http://www.barnardos.ie/osp

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    Mute Billy
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    Nov 6th 2020, 3:58 AM

    The Journal is one to talk about cyberbullying. If someone disagrees with you here they can call you every name under the sun, as long as their views are ‘liberal’. I’ve seen people here wish death on others for not wearing a face mask or for perceived ‘racism’ and getting hundreds of likes.

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    Mute Mark Walsh
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    Nov 6th 2020, 6:59 AM

    @Billy: You’re spot on Billy, people just come here to abuse people, I’m sure of it. There is no way they would open their mouths in the street. Children aren’t learning Online Bullying from themselves.

    17
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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 6th 2020, 1:27 PM

    @Billy: Right or left it’s all just shouting into the back of digital cupboard, the type of country we’re building is one of chips on shoulders, resent everyone, sue where you can, blame game, remember when the ‘Irish were a friendly, welcoming people?’ well that is clearly not what the majority of us want anymore.

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    Mute Amiga Ireland
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    Nov 5th 2020, 10:52 PM

    Bullying can be absolutely crushing and even moreso when the victim doesn’t have solid support at home and among other friends. Parents aren’t familiar with each other like we used to be. Devices create even more opportunities for bullys where the victims most private spaces at home are no longer a sanctuary.

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    Mute WCS
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    Nov 5th 2020, 10:40 PM

    Cyber everything increased during lockdown

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    Mute Vanessa
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    Nov 5th 2020, 11:10 PM

    Just sad to see that the bullying rates of the reviewed countries are the highest over here.

    I’m just wondering if parents are aware what their children doing online.

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    Mute David Connell
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    Nov 6th 2020, 12:46 AM

    Just block them or take the phones off the kids.

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    Mute hasnooneasked
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    Nov 6th 2020, 3:15 AM

    Why does it take Facebook so long to remove hateful and vile comments and videos. What is wrong with them and when you do report something that goes against community standards they than tell you it doesnt. So a video of someone being hateful and using absolute obscene laungauge to another person and being a bully seems to be ok in FB eyes

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 6th 2020, 1:27 PM

    Feel the hate.

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