Cyberbullying: What is it and how to react?
With the democratization of the use of digital technology, new dangers have appeared, including the risk of cyberbullying. What is cyberbullying and how to react? We take stock.
What is cyberbullying?
According to the authorities, harassment is characterized by intentionally insulting, threatening, ridiculing, or harassing others using online or telephone services for an extended period. The author chooses a victim who does not know how to defend himself against these attacks. The balance of power between the perpetrator and the victim is often unbalanced: the perpetrator is favored while the victim is socially sidelined.
Cyberbullying is therefore a form of harassment perpetuated on various digital channels – often on social networks, on online gaming platforms or more recently, on the metaverse. Cyberbullying is a legal offense, which, in Luxembourg, can also fall under criminal qualifications such as insults, defamation or invasion of privacy.
How to protect yourself?
The first thing to do is to adopt good practices in your daily use of digital technology. Among other things, you should remember the importance of protecting your personal information, not sharing your passwords, thinking about what you share online and respecting the privacy of others. You can also consult the many guides offered by BEESECURE (in French or German), including Risks on the Internet.
How can I educate my child about cyberbullying?
The recommendations of the United Nations Children's Fund are simple: “The more you talk to your child about bullying, the more comfortable they will feel about talking to you about it if they witness it or experience it. »
One of the most important attitudes to adopt is therefore to listen to the feelings of your child, to discuss and explain to him the content that could be problematic. If your child suddenly changes his behavior for no apparent reason, do not hesitate to start the dialogue.
How to react to a situation of cyberbullying?
If you think you are witnessing cyberbullying, you can simply act by showing your support for the victim. You would think that an intervention would expose you to being harassed yourself, but very often there are more people who condemn cyberbullying than aggressors.
If you think you are a victim of cyberbullying, you can speak to one or more people you trust and report it on the BEE SECURE Stopline platform. Managed by an authorized team, the BEE SECURE Stopline verifies each report and transfers illegal content to the police.
Resources
BEE SECURE, a government initiative of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for awareness and prevention around various themes and in particular cyberbullying.
Orange parents' space to best support your children in digital technology.