Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can be characterised in several specific ways that differ from face-to-face bullying. These include the profile of the person carrying out the bullying, the location of online bullying, the potential audience, the perceived anonymity of the person cyberbullying,  motivation of the person cyberbullying and the digital evidence of cyberbullying.Cyberbullying involving children is considered to be a type of child-on-child abuse and as such educational settings should ensure that clear policies and procedures are in place so concerns are recognised and responded to appropriately.

Cyberbullying, or online bullying, can be defined as using the internet or technologies to deliberately and repeatedly upset someone else; it is often an extension of face-to-face bullying, where the internet provides an additional route to communicate and harass.Cyberbullying, like other forms of bullying, affects self-esteem and self-confidence and can affect mental health and wellbeing. Addressing all forms of bullying and discrimination is vital to support the health and wellbeing of all members of education settings communities.Cyberbullying can/may involve:

• Defamation, taunting and humiliation
• Exclusion or peer-rejection
• Harassment and cyberstalking
• Impersonation, identity theft or hacking
• Intimidation or threats of violence
• Manipulation and exploitation
• Publication of private or personal information and images.

Every school must have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying.

Section 89 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 states that every school must have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils, including cyberbullying. These measures should be part of the school's behaviour policy which should be communicated to pupils, staff and parents.

Where bullying outside school is reported to schools and settings, it should be investigated and acted on. The Education and Inspections Act 2006 gives headteachers a specific statutory power to discipline pupils for poor behaviour outside of the school premises and say that a school’s disciplinary powers can be used to address pupils’ conduct when they are not on school premises and are not under the lawful control or charge of a member of school staff, but only if it would be reasonable for the school to regulate pupils’ behaviour in those circumstances. This can relate to any bullying incidents occurring anywhere off the school premises, including online.

Cyberbullying is specifically identified within the definition of emotional abuse (Working Together to Safeguard Children) and under the Children Act 1989, any bullying incident should be considered to be a child protection concern when there is 'reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm'.

Although bullying in itself is not a specific criminal offence in the UK, it is important to bear in mind that some types of harassing or threatening behaviour or online communications can be a criminal offence, for example under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Malicious Communications Act 1988, the Communications Act 2003, and the Public Order Act 1986.

Responding to concerns

If staff are concerned that a child or young person is being bullied online, they should follow their existing anti-bullying policy and child protection procedures.

Educational settings may need to draw on a range of internal approaches as well as external services (such as police and/or children's social care) to support learners who are experiencing bullying, or to tackle any underlying issues which may have contributed to a child perpetrating the bullying. A partnership approach with parents/carers and young people themselves is likely to be required.

What is "Trolling" and is it the same as cyberbullying?

"Trolling" is not quite the same as cyberbullying. Trolling is when someone deliberately posts inflammatory, offensive, or off-topic messages, images or comments online with the main intent of provoking an emotional response or disrupting normal on-topic discussion. People who take part in 'trolling' are referred to as 'trolls'. "Trolls" often argue that their behaviour is a "joke" and is about creating mischief or demonstrating freedom of speech; but for many, the viciousness and often personal nature of the comments verges on hate speech, threats and bullying, and can cause considerable distress.

Trolling can also have criminal consequences under the Malicious Communications Act which makes it an offence to send electronic communications that are indecent or highly offensive, contain threats or false information. If the reason for the communication is to cause distress or anxiety to the recipient or any other person, the sender is guilty of an offence whether those targeted actually receive the message or not.

What is "Digital Self-Harm"?

A less commonly known topic is the issue of 'digital' or 'cyber' self-harm. This phenomenon often presents initially as cyberbullying; but is where an individual posts unkind, hateful or offensive messages or content about themselves. Often anonymous services or fake accounts (or in some cases, another person's social media account) are used to send the messages. In some cases, children and young people may actively put themselves into negative situations online, for example inviting others to post unkind or hateful comments about them, sometimes referred to as “a roasting”. Self-harm is usually about acting in a way to 'release' emotional, psychological or physical pain; digital self-harm is believed to be a variation of this.

Digital self-harm is very a secretive behaviour; children and young people perpetrating digital self-harm require non-judgemental help and support from education settings, as well as peers and family members. If educational settings believe that children and young people are digitally self-harming, then they should respond in line with their existing child protection procedures.

Further information regarding digital self-harm can be found at the following links:

• What parents need to know about ‘digital self-harm’
• Why are children encouraging others to ‘roast’ them online?
• Cyber self-harm: Why do people troll themselves online?
• Digital Self-Harm and Other Acts of Self-Harassment
• Digital self-harm: teens tap out an online cry for help

Resources and guidance

The Department for Education provide non-statutory guidance for schools; 'Preventing and Tackling Bullying' which includes advice and information about how schools can support pupils and staff, as well as information to share with parents/carers.

School leaders should also access Childnet’s ‘Cyberbullying Understand, Prevent and Respond’ guidance and the UKCIS ‘Challenging victim blaming language and behaviours when dealing with the online experiences of children and young people’ guidance.

Additional resources and helplines include:

• Childnet:
  • Crossing the Line PSHE Toolkit
  • It's only a game

• CBBC: Own it

• Internet Matters

• UK Safer Internet Centre:
  • Professional Online Safety Helpline
  • Report Harmful Content

• NSPCC:
  • Childline
  • Bullying and Cyberbullying