Cybermobbing

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying simply refers to bullying on the internet. It can happen through social media, chats, internet forums, or even video games. The form it takes can vary from case to case. Some victims of cyberbullying are insulted or threatened, while others have unwanted pictures shared about them, are excluded, or have lies spread about them.

How can you prevent cyberbullying?

To reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of cyberbullying, you can take several precautions:

Private profile

To make sure that only selected people can see your posts, you should set your profile to private whenever possible. This makes it more difficult for potential bullies to see your pictures and misuse them for bullying. However, they could still get hold of pictures through someone who follows you, so think carefully about who you give access to your profile.

Profile picture

Since your profile picture is visible to everyone even if your profile is private, you should choose a picture in which you are not visible or are difficult to recognize. On WhatsApp, you can also use the privacy settings to hide your profile picture from selected contacts.

The bus stop rule

Before posting pictures or other content, ask yourself whether you would have a problem with seeing that content displayed at a bus stop in your neighborhood. This is roughly comparable to posting something on social media, where anyone who happens to come across it can see what you have shared. This rule is particularly important for public profiles.

Don’t get involved in arguments

Getting involved in arguments or heated discussions online could make you a target for cyberbullying, spam, or even doxing, which means publishing someone’s personal information. It is therefore better to stay out of such situations and generally remain polite and respectful online.

The right to your own image

If you notice someone taking a photo or recording a video of you, ask that person not to share or publish the material.

What can you do if you are a victim of cyberbullying?

Report it to the police

If the situation involves serious insults, threats, or similar behavior, you may be able to file a police report.

Document everything

Write down all available information about the perpetrator and the platform on which the bullying is taking place, and take screenshots of the relevant posts, preferably including the date and time. You should also save any insulting or threatening emails you receive.

Contact the platform operator

Contact the platform operator and provide as much information as possible about the incidents. They are required to remove clearly offensive content. In some cases, the user may also be blocked. If the platform still does not take any action, you can contact the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) and file a complaint. They can review your case and take action if the reported content violates your rights.

Talk to someone if possible

Young people are particularly often affected by cyberbullying. The origin of cyberbullying is frequently connected to real life, especially school. This means that the perpetrators are often known to the victim, even if they appear anonymous online. Young people in this situation should talk to their parents or their school. The bully’s parents should also be informed. Being confronted about their behavior, especially by teachers or their own parents, can often encourage cyberbullies to stop.

If there are serious insults, threats, or similar behavior, it may be possible to file a police report. You should document the case as thoroughly as possible before reporting it.

What can I do if someone else becomes a victim of cyberbullying?

Show the victim that they are not alone

Clearly take the victim’s side and speak out against the bullies’ actions. Joining the perpetrator and approving of their behavior can also make you a participant in the bullying. You should also never start bullying the perpetrator in return, as this could make you a target yourself.

Save evidence and report it

Take screenshots of the relevant posts. The entire screen should be visible so that the evidence is credible. You can then report the incident on the relevant platform. In extreme cases, the police can be informed. Make sure that the victim knows about this and does not feel afraid to take this step.

Talk to the victim or people close to them if possible

If you know the affected person in real life, you can talk to them and offer your help. If you cannot speak to them directly, you can inform people close to them, such as their parents, friends, or partner. It is important that the victim does not have to deal with the situation alone.