78% of cyber-bullies are from the same school as the victim – the surprising result of the latest survey to be conducted in Czech schools
Prague - The O2 Foundation and the Aisis Civic Association have published the results of the latest survey of the phenomenon known as cyber-bullying amongst Czech children, which charts the situation in schools over the last six month. The survey shows that 10% of children over the last six months have been victims of cyber-bullying. The survey also pointed up how few of the children know what the concept means and how little they fear cyber-bullying. It confirmed the link between cyber-bullying and the atmosphere and relationships in the classroom and the unwillingness of pupils to inform their teacher of this problem. It also disproved the established idea of the anonymity of the aggressor. 78% of aggressors are in the same class or school as the victim.
The survey was held as part of the project entitled Minimisation of Bullying, which since 2005 has been assisting schools in the fight against bullying, and recorded the responses of children aged 8 to 15 years.
"We wanted to chart the current situation as regards cyber-bullying," says Ivana Šatrová, director of the O2 Foundation. "Cyber-bullying is likely to increase in the future along with the computer literacy of children. And therefore the information which teachers have and the stance taken by schools will be crucial. We want to assist schools take a stand against cyber-bullying."
What is cyber-bullying?
The aim of cyber-bullying is to offend or ridicule someone using electronic means (e.g. SMS and MMS messages, videos, e-mail, chatrooms or derogatory websites). It is deliberate, hostile conduct which is usually repeated. The individual cyber-bully or group of such bullies attacks their victim in such a way that they cannot effectively defend themselves.
The survey showed that 60% of children did not even know the term cyber-bullying or were not completely sure what it meant. The response of schools to this problem is as yet insufficient. Only 19% of children learned of cyber-bullying at school and only 8% had confided in their teacher.
"We also see that, although children perceive cyber-bullying as dangerous, they are not very afraid of it on a personal level," says the Minimisation of Bullying Project ManagerJana Udatná (Aisis o.s.). "Most children (69%) who have not been subject to cyber-bullying believe that something like this could not happen to them. We need to warn of the very real dangers of cyber-bullying."
The survey confirmed the links between cyber-bullying and the overall climate and relationships in the classroom and traditional bullying. As far as cyber-bullying (and bullying in general) is concerned, the status of the child in the classroom is crucial, i.e. how incorporated into the collective they are and how many friends they have. The research shows that 8% of children (i.e. 62,000 children in the Czech Republic) are not happy in their classroom, and 3% of children (almost 23,000 children in the CR) have no friends in their classroom.
The survey also examined the experience children had of the cyber-bullying of teachers. More than half of the children had heard of a case involving the cyber-bullying of a teacher and 31% of them had at some point seen a video ridiculing a teacher. These figures too find their origin in a poor classroom atmosphere and poor relationship between pupils and the teacher. 22% of the children thought that taking pictures of their teacher was good fun and offered a way of getting back at their teacher.
"Overall the results confirm that schools need more information on how to work with cyber-bullying and how to prevent it. For this reason, we are preparing materials which will do the rounds of all basic schools in the Czech Republic during spring. The materials will show teachers how to speak with children regarding cyber-bullying and how to improve the atmosphere in the classroom so that the children feel as comfortable as possible. And that is not all. This year we are going to launch new strategic project according to new global CSR strategy of Telefónica Europe, which will motivate and encourage young people to actively and positively influence the athmosphere in their schools," adds Ivana Šatrová in conclusion.
More information is available from:
Jana Udatná, Minimisation of Bullying Project Manager, jana.udatna@aisis.cz, 737 984 824
Kateřina Vágnerová, Minimisation of Bullying PR Manager, katerina.vagnerova@aisis.cz, 731 452 982
www.minimalizacesikany.cz
