#BedtimeStories - Online Bullying
Bullying no longer stops at the school gate
In February 2018 we launched our #BedtimeStories campaign. We need to raise awareness of the impact of online bullying and create greater online safety for children and young people.
About the Campaign
Online bullying is a contributing factor for many young people having thoughts of suicide. Over 200 schoolchildren die by suicide every year in the UK. We need everyone to be aware of the impact that online bullying can have on children and young people’s mental health.
Bullying affects young people in many different ways. It can impact on their self-esteem, emotional wellbeing, education and life outside of school. Those experiencing bullying may feel self-conscious, embarrassed, or feel that they aren’t ‘worth’ help. They may feel scared, sad or overwhelmed, and find it difficult to sleep or eat. Many young people who have been bullied find it really hard to ever feel safe or confident in anything they do, leading them to isolate themselves from others and give up the things they enjoy doing.
From calls to our helpline HOPELINE247 we know that bullying can cause many young people to feel isolated, worthless, and experience thoughts of suicide. As many as 40% of the contacts we receive from children and young people aged 11-18 involve issues around online bullying. For many, it can seem like there is no escape, that the bullying will never stop or go away, and that everyone would be ‘better off’ without them. Other contributing factors may make it harder for them to stay alive – battles with diagnosed anxiety and depression, or hearing negative voices that echo the comments made on social media.
Support with suicidal thoughts
If bullying is leading to thoughts or feelings of suicide, or you have concerns that a friend or family member is having thoughts of suicide, contact HOPELINE247 by phone, text or email and talk to our suicide prevention advisers in confidence. Our advisers can provide short-term advice and support around staying safe from suicide, help you to work on a plan to keep safe for now, and look at ways to manage and cope with suicidal thoughts.
Support with online bullying
Bullying UK can provide advice and support if you are affected by any form of bullying. They have a confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222, online advice at www.bullying.co.uk or the forums to talk to others who are going through similar issues.
These quotes have been taken from HOPELINE247 and anonymised to ensure they are not identifiable
Research
Young people are increasingly using social media from a younger age; recent research has shown that 59% of young people had their first accounts at age 12 or under, despite guidelines from all social media sites that users should be 13 years old before opening an account. 45% of young people spend more than three hours per day on social media, and sometimes use social media between midnight at 6am.
Many young people feel that social media has more of a negative impact on how they feel about themselves (38%), than a positive impact (24%). Over a quarter reported personal experience of online bullying between 2017-18 – and as many as 42% have seen someone harassed or bullied online. Despite this, just 42% would tell their parents if something upset them on social media.*
*Findings from survey undertaken by YoungMinds and The Children’s Society of children and young people aged 11-25 on their views and experiences of bullying online.
Helpful Links and Resources
We want to unite against bullying and consider what we can do to make our online environment safer. What can you do if you’re being bullied or if you’re worried about someone who is? To help you, we’ve put together the following resources for you to download:
Online Bullying: Help and advice for parents and carers
Parents of children today didn’t have to cope with online bullying when they were growing up – so it can be confusing to know what advice to give children to help them cope. Click to download.
Online Bullying: Resource for children and young people
Coping with being bullied and getting support can be really daunting. Many young people find it difficult to cope and may experience thoughts of suicide when they can’t seem to find a ‘way out’. Remember, you are not alone if you feel this way, and there is always help available. Click to download.
Other useful links:
