Revealed: how nearly half of teenagers fall victim to cyber-bullying

Almost half of teenagers have been victims of cyber-bullying and their parents are worryingly ignorant about their internet use.

Research by the University of Buckingham and Sir John Cass’s Foundation reveals adults significantly underestimate the extent to which their children are bullied, or act as bullies, online.

Their report, Beyond The School Gates, shows that 53 per cent of teenagers reported that their photograph had been posted online to embarrass them, but only 22.1 per cent of parents thought this had happened to their child.

More than 300 teenagers aged between 13 to 18, and 130 parents, had detailed interviews for the research.

Dr Masa Popovac, senior psychologist at the university, said: “This shows a wide discrepancy between teenagers’ online behaviours and experiences and parental awareness.”

Two women tell of cyber bullying hell

Annabel Swatton, 16, was bullied at school before her abusers took their harassment online.

They set up a fake profile in her name on a website ridiculing her and her family, and posting fake “pornographic images”.

Her personal information was shared on the site. Annabel said: “I found out it existed after I got an explicit message on Snapchat from a man. It was horrible.”

She was recognised while out and approached by men. She said: “It was scary, I spiralled into severe depression and anxiety, I wanted to kill myself.”

Annabel now wants to be a spokeswoman for victims of cyber-bullying.

A woman first targeted aged 12 by cyber-bullies said young people do not speak out for fear of the “stigma” of being a victim.

Georgia Woods, 21, from south-east London, was tormented online for two years, which led her to attempting suicide.

The bullies set up a Bebo page writing how much they all “despised” her.

The customer service representative, who became an ambassador for Beatbullying, said: “I was at my lowest point and I wanted to kill myself. I went into the toilets and tried to hang myself.”

She now wants to encourage victims to talk about their experiences to crush the “stigma”.

The report, which is published today, found that nearly one in five teenagers had been threatened online, yet just 7.2 per cent of parents believed this had happened to their child. The study also showed that cyber-bullying and face-to-face bullying are linked, with a third having experienced bullying both online and offline.

More than a quarter of adolescents reported that they did not want to go to school on some days due to something that was said or done to them online. Dr Popovac added: “Bullying online can be much harsher due to less fear of consequences by perpetrators. There is also a much larger audience for those who cyber-bully rather than bully face-to-face and it is more relentless — it can happen day or night.”

The report calls for online safety to be taken more seriously, and for more funding for evidence-based intervention efforts. Sir Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, said: “Cyber-aggression and cyber-bullying have resulted in untold distress among the young and, at its worst, in suicide.

“This report is badly needed because it is grounded on serious research into this vital area. The numbers affected by this abuse are, as the report shows, alarmingly high.

“It is the very remoteness of cyber-space that can bring out the very worst in human nature.

“We now have the evidence about the seriousness of this issue. As the report says we need to act with a real sense of urgency.”