Bullying on the net Nearly every fifth teen affected

New study: Cyberbullying affects almost every fifth teen
Around 20 percent of all German adolescents are already victims of cyberbullying, according to a recent study. Many sufferers feel helpless. Experts advise not to accept the insults and slander and to seek help if necessary.

Every fifth adolescent is a victim of cyberbullying
Almost one in five teenagers in Germany has ever been the victim of cyberbullying on the internet. And about 34 percent of young people between the ages of 13 to 18 years is a case known from the close friend or family circle. This has resulted in an international online study by Vodafone with the polling institute YouGov, which the British telecommunications company now presented in Berlin. The survey was conducted at the beginning of September.

Many sufferers feel helpless
More than half of the almost 5,000 teens surveyed from 11 countries found nasty comments on Facebook, Whatsapp or Twitter worse than bullying in real life. And about 43 percent say they have a bigger problem than the use of illegal drugs. Almost every fifth culled adolescent has thought about suicide. Many people felt helpless or skipped school. These numbers are extremely alarming. For a long time, health experts have pointed out that, whether the insults are on the Internet or in real life, bullying victims often suffer for a lifetime. Many sufferers suffer from depression, threats and humiliation, including depression.

Do not just take bullying
Cyberbullying has seen some particularly dramatic cases in the past. According to the dpa news agency, a 17-year-old Canadian took her life in 2013, and one year earlier the then 20-year-old Dutchman Tim Ribberink committed suicide. Germany is in the middle of the number of cases of bullying in international comparison. Young people in New Zealand suffer the most. Experts generally advise stopping the chicane fast and explaining what cyberbullying can do. If the bullying is about social media, you can report or block the bully in most services. In some cases, depending on the degree of escalation, it may make sense to talk to the perpetrators. In case of threats or extortion, you should contact competent authorities if necessary. (Ad)