Cybermobbing

Cyberbullying involves sending insults, lies and embarrassing or erotic content, even manipulated images. It can be done with great speed and at a safe distance. The consequences can be devastating – especially for children and adolescents. 

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is when one or more individuals insult, threaten, expose or harass another person over an extended period of time in social networks or over messaging services with the intent of socially isolating that person.

It includes:

  • Spreading misinformation and rumors
  • Creating, uploading and sharing embarrassing, fake, explicit or pornographic photos and videos
  • Creating fake profiles in order to demean others
  • Verbal abuse, harassment, threats and extortion via emails, text messages, etc.
  • Creating hate groups for making negative statements about individuals

How cyberbullying occurs

Cyberbullying can happen anytime and anywhere, with victims subjected to abuse day and night. Cyberbullies use online content that they create themselves or find elsewhere (including from parents’ profiles) to systematically bully, threaten, expose or harass young people. Such content can be accessed anytime and anywhere, so it is easily saved and shared. When embarrassing content is shared like this, it travels quickly and causes a lot of stress for the young victims.

Doing this online allows the perpetrators to remain anonymous. They can create fake profiles or spread false information without the victim knowing. Cyberbullying can be particularly serious 

How to protect yourself

  • Avoid where possible sharing personal information online (name, age, school, etc.) 
  • Only share information online that you’d share with strangers offline. 
  • Make your profile private. Share content only with people you trust. 
  • Be aware of the legal issues.
  • Learn where and how to report inappropriate content, block users and get help.

My child is being bullied. What can we do?

  • Demand that the bullies remove the relevant photos or other content.
  • Collect evidence (screenshots of chats, comments, fake accounts, etc.) If necessary, file a report with the police. Consult a victim support center (Opferhilfestelle) for advice. 
  • Block the perpetrators on all apps and platforms.
  • If possible, report the perpetrators on those apps and platforms.
  • If the perpetrators go to your child’s school, inform their teachers and/or the principal about what’s going on.
  • If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone about it or seek help.

Get more information / help