Cyberbullying: a growing menace
Updated on 21 September 2007
A new government campaign is launched this morning to tackle the menace of cyberbullying.
Bullying by text or email is a growing phenomenon in Britain, with up to 34 per cent of 12 to 15 year-olds claiming to have been victims.
Now the department for children, schools and families has produced a package of guidance for parents, teachers - and children themselves - on how to help combat the problem.
Some of the Government's advice
It may be a result of better anti-bullying campaigns in schools, or simply the downside of our increasingly technology proficient youth, but cyberbullying - that's bullying by text, email or on the internet - is on the rise. One in three children now say they've experienced it. Two years ago it was one in five.
Julianne Florrie was bullied at school. After three years the bullies moved into cyberspace, messaging abuse to her MSN address, then attacking her on the social networking site myspace. With the help of the Beatbullying charity, she went to the police who issued harrasment orders against the bullies.
This is far from the first time the goverment has launched an anti-bullying campaign - many schools now have bullying protocols to protect children.
But cyberbulling is relatively new - children effectively bullied even in their own homes - and social networking sites like MSN and myspace are working to combat it.
Today the Beatbullying charity said government guidance was welcome but not the solution - a piece of paper listing what to do they say won't save a child from their tormentors.
