Anti-Bullying Week 2024: Taking a Stand Against Cyberbullying

This week is Anti-Bullying Week 2024, a time dedicated to raising awareness and building support to counter bullying in all its forms. This year, Freedom2Hear is spotlighting cyberbullying—a widespread issue affecting millions, especially as our lives are more connected online than ever before.

According to recent studies, approximately 37% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 have experienced cyberbullying at some point in 2024. Of those, nearly 30% report frequent online harassment, affecting their mental health, self-esteem, and sense of security. Furthermore, a global survey by UNESCO this year revealed that one in three young people globally has been a victim of online bullying. These numbers show just how prevalent—and urgent—this issue is.

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What Is Cyberbullying?

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Cyberbullying includes online harassment, spreading rumours, exclusion, impersonation, and threats. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying doesn’t stop at the school gates or after work hours—it follows people into their homes, popping up on phones, computers, and social media feeds at any time.

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The Impact of Cyberbullying

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The effects of cyberbullying can be severe and long-lasting, leading to anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of self-harm. Cyberbullying can make people feel trapped, as victims often feel there’s no escape from the constant notifications and online attacks.

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Here are a few notable findings on cyberbullying’s effects in 2024:

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• Mental Health: Over 25% of young people who experience online bullying report symptoms of anxiety and depression. The constant exposure to hurtful messages impacts self-worth and well-being.
• School Performance: Nearly 20% of students affected by cyberbullying find it difficult to concentrate in school, affecting their grades and participation in class.
• Social Withdrawal: Many victims withdraw from social interactions, both online and offline, to avoid further bullying, which can lead to isolation and further psychological harm.

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What We Can Do

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Cyberbullying isn’t just the victim’s burden to bear—it’s an issue for us all to address as a community. Here are some ways each of us can make a difference:

1. Promote Awareness and Education: Educating ourselves and others about the impacts of cyberbullying helps build empathy and understanding. Schools and workplaces can offer training to support respectful online behaviour.
2. Report and Block: Social media platforms have tools to report and block users who are abusive. While reporting doesn’t always result in immediate action, it’s an essential step to curb bullying.
3. Be an Active Bystander: If you witness online bullying, consider reaching out to the victim privately to offer support, or, if safe to do so, address the bullying directly. Often, a simple show of solidarity can make a significant difference.
4. Support Mental Health Resources: Access to mental health support can be transformative for those impacted by cyberbullying. Supporting organisations that offer counselling, helplines, and other resources ensures that those who need help can find it.

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Let’s Create a Kinder Internet

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Cyberbullying is a challenge, but it’s one we can tackle together. This Anti-Bullying Week, we at Freedom2Hear encourage everyone to think about how they can contribute to a safer, more supportive online space. We all deserve to feel safe, respected, and valued—both in the physical world and online.

To support this mission, Freedom2hear has developed proprietary Emotion AI that uses enhanced filters to detect and remove hate and harassment, including racism, sexism, anti-LGBTQ+ slurs, religious abuse, and other threats. Our technology allows us to alert clients when someone is being targeted, enabling them to provide support and protect mental well-being. By swiftly identifying, escalating, and reporting threats, we help ensure that abusive individuals face consequences for their actions.

While we stand for freedom of speech, we also firmly believe in everyone’s right to a harassment-free online experience, including the ability to remove harmful content from their social media feeds.

Let’s make a commitment this week to stand up against cyberbullying. A kinder internet starts with each of us, one post, one message, one click at a time.

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Together, we can make a difference.

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