Industry News
Government cracks down on cyberbullies
Posted on 21st September 2007
The government has unveiled a series of new measures designed to ensure children are protected from bullies using the internet to harass them.
Secretary of state for children, schools and families Ed Balls said the "vast majority" of schools were safe learning environments but that bullying was a concern.
A recent study by the Department for Children, Schools and Families found that up to 34 per cent of children aged between 12 and 15 had been the victims of cyberbullying.
It can involve behaviour such as posting insults and remarks about peers online or harassing other children using mobile phones and can often be sexist, racist or homophobic, Mr Balls said.
He said: "Cyberbullying is a particularly insidious type of bullying as it can follow young people wherever they go, with no refuge, and the anonymity that it seemingly affords to the perpetrator can make it even more stressful for the victim."
The government will issue guidance on avoiding and dealing with cyberbullying to both children and teachers, and has launched an online campaign with the catchphrase "laugh at it and you're a part of it".
Charity Kidscape encourages children to deal with cyberbullying exactly the same way as they should deal with face-to-face harassment and tell a parent or teacher.