What is digital bullying?

Bullying is an old phenomenon. But with the digitalization of our society, a completely new issue has arisen. As more and more of our communication takes place over various social media and digital platforms, bullying has also moved online. The bullying that was previously associated with schoolyards and breaks is now found on the internet. This has significant implications for both the individual victim and our society as a whole. Digital bullying is indeed a whole new phenomenon that can be difficult to handle and protect against. But if nothing is done, it can have fatal consequences for the children and young people who are subjected to bullying on the internet.

Bullying occurs largely online

Digital bullying is a new phenomenon that has emerged alongside the increasing use of the internet and social media in our daily lives. Due to the ongoing digitalization, it is a continuously growing problem – and there is no indication that this trend will stop. The internet and social media provide entirely new opportunities for and types of bullying. Unlike traditional bullying, digital bullying does not allow the victim to escape or take a break from the unpleasant experiences and situations. At the same time, it can be difficult to know who is really behind the bullying, as they can hide behind screens and anonymous profiles. On the internet, you can never know who and how many are watching, or how quickly content can be shared and spread. Therefore, digital bullying is a significant threat to both the parties involved and society as a whole.

Many opportunities for digital bullying

The internet provides completely new opportunities for bullies. First and foremost, they can hide behind anonymous profiles, so one cannot know who is really behind the bullying. Additionally, digital bullying can occur in numerous ways and across various media. For example, offensive and hateful content on blogs, websites, and social media can be part of the online bullying. Sharing unpleasant images and videos is also often seen, particularly sexual content, including images and videos of girls and young women being shared with an unknown number of people. This is an example of the snowball effect: a seemingly small thing can suddenly develop and become overwhelmingly large because things spread and are shared quickly and uncontrollably on social media. There are, therefore, several reasons why online bullying can have an even greater and more destructive effect than traditional bullying.

Two types of online bullying

In general, digital bullying can be divided into two types: direct and indirect. Direct bullying involves unpleasant messages and other content that directly addresses the victim. This can for example be in the form of texts, private messages, tags, or comments. The second form is indirect and can include secret hate groups that the victim does not have access to. The content of such a group can seem particularly brutal and unpleasant when the victim finally becomes aware of it. Therefore, one cannot say that one type of digital bullying is better than another. It is simply important to be aware that bullying can indeed take place even if the victim is not aware of it.

Denmark has a significant problem with online bullying

It can be difficult to discern when digital bullying is taking place. Therefore, many are also unaware of the extent of it. Data from the European study 'EU kids online – net children go mobile'[1] shows that 21% of all 9-16-year-olds have been subjected to online bullying within the past year. This study also concludes that bullying via digital media is a much larger problem in Denmark than it is in some other European countries. The reasons for this, we can only speculate about. But it is important that we as a society take this issue seriously and make an effort to protect our children. It is indeed hardly surprising that digital bullying can have significant and lasting consequences for those who are subjected to it.

[1] http://netchildrengomobile.eu

Severe consequences for the victim

Digital bullying can have consequences now and in the future on both a personal and professional level. It can severely affect the victimized child's mental state and health if subjected to online bullying for an extended period and does not receive help to cope. One often experiences that children who are subjected to bullying online become more withdrawn. This applies both in physical life and online, where the child will often try to "censor" themselves to avoid further bullying. Because the child has no way of escaping digital bullying and finding peace, it can lead to insecurity and ultimately a more permanent state of stress. At the same time, the hateful and/or offensive words, videos, or images can diminish the child's self-esteem and confidence. In extreme cases, this can lead to suicidal thoughts and suicide. Therefore, it is crucial that digital bullying is recognized and addressed.

The internet does not forget

In addition to the significant mental health consequences, online bullying can also haunt the victim far into the future on other levels. Unlike words spoken in the schoolyard, content on the internet does not disappear into thin air. Instead, it remains, often on several different and sometimes inaccessible servers. Therefore, it can seem almost impossible to remove the offensive content that may be spread in connection with the bullying. This applies, for example, to sexual content, which can often be impossible to completely erase from the internet. As we also use the internet to research each other, this content can easily be found by others – even far into the future. In this way, bullying can also have consequences for the victim's future career and personal life.

Protect your employees and their families

If one experiences digital bullying, it is something that will affect the entire family. Parents will naturally also experience concern and stress if it is discovered that their child or children are subjected to bullying online. As a company, one can take out insurance that covers employees against digital violations such as bullying. This insurance also covers their children living at home under 18 years old. If an employee's child were to be subjected to digital bullying, having insurance would ensure competent handling and professional support to minimize the consequences. This benefits the company, as the employees will feel safer and happier in their workplace. It is also a strong internal signal to send that the company is making an active effort to secure each employee and their family against digital bullying and other online violations.

Professional handling of online bullying

It can be difficult to know who to turn to if you have a child who is being subjected to digital bullying. Precisely because it is a new phenomenon, neither media nor authorities have a clear and effective plan for handling online bullying. At the same time, there are several aspects to consider when handling bullying on the internet. First and foremost, it must be stopped, and the various involved parties must reach an agreement. It is essential to seek professional help to address it in an appropriate manner. However, there is also a significant task in trying to get the content removed from the internet, so that the digital bullying does not have long-lasting consequences. With insurance, one can be assured of receiving help with all aspects from experts who have many years of experience in this field. If a company wants to ensure the well-being and safety of its employees and their families, then insurance against online bullying is a prudent choice.