Cyberbullying
Why school internet education can help
Christian Scherg is an expert in online crisis communication & cyberbullying.
© Christian Scherg
The cyberbullying problem has worsened considerably during the Corona period. In this way, parents can protect their children in the best possible way.
The international Safer Internet Day (SID) has been held every February since 2004 to raise awareness among children and young people of the topic of online security. Cyberbullying has increased significantly in recent years, especially in schools. The reasons for the increase also include the effects of the corona pandemic. The conflicts in the schoolyard have shifted to the internet in the course of homeschooling, young people make extensive use of the internet and especially social platforms.
"WhatsApp groups, social networks, video portals, e-mails and chat functions of video games, apps and video conference software for distance teaching – the list is long and effective control is almost impossible," says Christian Scherg. The expert for online crisis communication & cyberbullying calls for "universal education and support for children, but also for parents". In an interview, the expert explains how parents can protect their children in the best possible way, who those affected can turn to and how Telekom's "digital protection package" can support them.
Cyberbullying mostly affects young people – do parents leave their children unattended on the Internet?
Christian Scherg: Yes, but that has nothing to do with disinterest, but with being overwhelmed. Parents often do not know how to react correctly and in addition to this, the use of digital communication channels has increased even further as a result of Corona: WhatsApp groups, social networks, video portals, emails and chat functions of video games, apps and video conferencing -Software for distance teaching – the list is long and effective control almost impossible. Universal information and support is required here: for the children, but also for the parents.
From what age can children safely surf the web unsupervised or use their own smartphone with access to social media?
Scherg: A Bitkom study from 2019 shows that children are moving earlier and earlier in the digital world: 97% of children aged 12 and over use the Internet occasionally. From the age of ten, three out of four children have a smartphone. Correct behavior in the digital world is just as important for children today as the rules in road traffic. Parents only send their child out on the street alone when they feel safe and the correct behavior has been practiced. I therefore advocate less for a certain starting age, but for school Internet education with a corresponding qualification, such as the bicycle test. The basic requirement for this will be to further develop the media skills of teachers.
Which technical aids do you recommend for safe surfing?
Scherg: It is advisable to create your own accounts and use filter software that protect children from content on the Internet that is not age-appropriate. The installation of the free software "KinderServer", for example, only allows access to websites that are suitable for children under the age of 12 and can be reached using the children's search engines "FragFinn" and "Blinde Kuh". Other pages that parents consider harmless can be added to so-called whitelists. Google and Facebook are of course taboo for children. For example, "Seitenstark.de" is recommended as the start page.
How can parents make their children aware of the dangers of the web?
Scherg: It is important for parents to educate and make their children strong. Only if I convey a healthy self-perception to my child in the real world will they be able to set limits in the digital world and recognize when their own dignity is being violated on the Internet. My team and I also use our special cyberbullying simulator to show in school classes how easily cyberbullying occurs and which psychological mechanisms run behind it. A very practical experience that opens the eyes of many children and teachers and sensitizes them to the topic.
What advice do you give parents who suspect current cyberbullying problems are affecting their children?
Scherg: Parents should speak openly to their children about cyberbullying if they notice that their child is reacting increasingly tense and anxious to digital messages, withdraws and no longer wants to talk about their online activities or hides them by using the computer or the smartphone switches off quickly when entering the room. A drop in school performance or headaches and stomach aches can also be symptoms. Take your time, listen to your child and don't blame them – what your child needs most of all now is understanding.
Who can help victims of cyberbullying? Who can parents or children turn to?
Scherg: I advise all children to always take their parents into confidence. They should take photos of evidence and inform the school and, if necessary, the police – especially if the perpetrators are anonymous. Cyberbullying is not a prank, but a serious crime with massive consequences for those affected. However, when it comes to deleting offensive content from the Internet and also finding the sender, private individuals are unfortunately often powerless and overwhelmed. Professional offers such as the "Digital Protection Package" from Telekom can help here.
How exactly does it work?
Scherg: The "Digital Protection Package" from Telekom offers immediate help to get cyberbullying victims out of the network with insults, defamation or other reputational content. For this purpose, the right contact persons and contacts are researched, deletions initiated, mediated between the conflicting parties if necessary, counter notifications drawn up and all relevant channels monitored. Cyberbullying in particular requires a lot of experience and support tailored to the individual case so that the suffering of those affected can be alleviated as quickly as possible.