Education system fails to tackle cyberbullying

Research conducted by the Lem Institute shows that most Polish students have directly or indirectly come into contact with forms of cyberbullying, i.e. insults, ridicule and humiliation, attempts to impersonate, publication of compromising photos or films, threats or blackmail. Despite this, less than one in 10 talk to their parents about it, and teachers and the education system are often unable to solve problems in this area. Thus, cyberbullying has already become one of the biggest challenges of Polish schools, which requires more educational efforts.  

"We recently visited more than 30 schools and met with more than 5,000 students. Each of them filled in a questionnaire, and on that basis we created a report that shows the scale of cybercrime in Polish elementary school. The results are devastating. Every third child, when asked whether they are more afraid of digital crime or crime in the world around them, indicated the former, including the hegemony they face on the Internet," Dr Maciej Kawecki, President of the Lem Institute, said.

Three out of four Polish primary school students have encountered some form of cyberbullying. This includes insults, ridicule and humiliation, attempts to impersonate, publication of compromising photos or videos, threats or blackmail. One in three never told anyone about it.

(Newseria)