Understand, prevent and respond to online bullying
Cyberbullying, or online bullying, can be defined as the use of technologies by an individual or by a group of people to deliberately and repeatedly upset someone else.
Research reveals it has increased to affect 12% of young people in this country.
Best practices and resources for schools
The UK Safer Internet Centre’s 2016 Cyberbullying Guidance for Schools sets out how schools can understand, prevent and respond to cyberbullying.
- Understand: Know how to define and recognise cyberbullying and the different forms it can take.
- Prevent: understand and talk about cyberbullying; integrate cyberbullying prevention into relevant policies and practices; ensure reporting routes are accessible and visible; promote the positive use of technology; and evaluate the impact of prevention activities
- Respond: The school should act as soon as an incident has been reported or identified. This will include providing appropriate support for the person who has been cyberbullied; stopping the incident from spreading and assist in removing material from circulation; and working with the person who has carried out the bullying to ensure that it does not happen again.
