How to better fight against cyberbullying? In recent years, the phenomenon has taken on a worrying scale, highlighted by the media and scientists. So, according to a Franco-Canadian study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, conducted among 4,626 young people aged 15 to 23, 19% of those questioned indicated having already experienced a form of cyberharassment at least once. This is also recognized by politicians, who are putting in place new measures. In France, the Ministry of National Education has developed a questionnaire for self-detection of school bullying which will be presented to all students in school from CE2 to final year after the All Saints’ Day holidays. “Two hours of school time will be allocated for this purpose between Thursday November 9 and Wednesday November 15,” the ministry said.
But, on the side of large technology companies, the extent of the problem does not yet seem to have been taken. This is further evidenced, a few months ago, by the suggestion of Elon Musk, owner of the X platform (formerly Twitter), to remove the “blocking” function, which allows users to cut off interactions with accounts considered to be harmful.
The design of social networks can amplify violence
But what exactly is cyberbullying? It is an aggressive, intentional act carried out by an individual or group using digital communication tools with an inequality of power between the perpetrators and the victims. Some suggest that the definition should incorporate additional characteristics, such as the “twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week” nature of bullying, the relative anonymity of harassers, which is not always possible in non-digital bullying, potential exposure and embarrassment of the victim on a larger scale.
If acts of cyberharassment are indeed the individual responsibility of people, recent research – including a study published by American researchers in Current Opinion in Psychology – show that the design of certain social media platform tools can subtly amplify harassment. Among them, tools which facilitate access to user profiles (to easily find a target), which allow the exploration of accounts (in order to collect information on the target), those which authorize the modification of one’s publications (to change or delete a message and deny any form of intimidation), or those which promote associations between groups of users (which allow responsibility for online harassment to be distributed). Other designs can also increase exposure to the dangers of cyberbullying, including tools that measure popularity (the number of likes, friends, etc.), which push users to interact recklessly with strangers to gain a form of social validation.
The typical victim, a 16-18 year old woman belonging to a sexual minority
Several health professionals are concerned about the impact of online violent behavior on the mental health of victims. In these people, we frequently find associations with depressive states, anxiety or the consumption of addictive substances. Victims of cyberbullying also have significantly higher rates of psychological disorders than non-victims (27.3% versus 14.9%), they also have higher rates of suicidal risk, suicidal thoughts and self-harm than non-victims. -victims, particularly among young women. The scientific literature clearly shows this: these situations cause suffering among the victims.
But what are the characteristics that increase the likelihood of being a victim or perpetrator of cyberbullying? Italian researchers tried to answer this question by compiling a set of scientific studies on the subject. According to their analyses, the people targeted by cyberharassment are mainly women, young people aged 16 to 18 and people belonging to a sexual minority. Victims of cyberbullying will also more frequently present problems with social adaptation, physical disabilities, concerns about weight and eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, etc.). Victims also have a history of traditional bullying, since cyberbullying can be an extension of school bullying.
The typical perpetrator, a man older than his victim, impulsive, antisocial
Regarding the perpetrators of cyberharassment, researchers note that they are more frequently men and individuals with a higher average age than that of the victims. In this population, we also find a significant prevalence of experiences of parental neglect and excessive use of social networks. They also have greater difficulty regulating their emotions and impulsivity. They also exhibit antisocial behavior more often. Finally, they are more likely to have been victims of cyberbullying themselves in the past.
But how to combat this phenomenon? One of the keys is prevention among children and adolescents, parents, but also among National Education personnel. We could naively say that what happens on the Internet does not concern school. Except that the latest studies on this theme show that cyberbullying can be an extension of school bullying. Several scientific studies also recommend using educational programs within establishments involving the training of parents, as well as the establishment of coherent methods in the school and very clear class rules. In the event of proven cyberharassment, several treatments have proven effective, including increased supervision during recess, support for the victim and disciplinary measures against the perpetrators of violence.
Additional actions can also be carried out at the level of the general population. Programs have thus made it possible to reduce acts of cyberharassment, such as digital self-defense training. These aim to explain to users how to react: use blocking systems, modify their privacy settings or use features to report inappropriate behavior. Other interventions based on pro-social behaviors have also shown good results. Among them, asking witnesses to intervene in the event of violence on social networks. Finally, prevention actions explaining that online anonymity does not exist, even under a pseudonym, have also proven effective in reducing cyberharassment.
Digital giants must also shoulder their responsibilities in the fight against cyberharassment. This can simply involve improving communication around this subject on the platforms. Using artificial intelligence to better detect cyberbullying messages could be effective, for example, if these systems managed to dissuade harassers from committing acts of intimidation when they write their messages. Finally, the fight against cyberharassment could involve the use of more responsible designs on social networks, such as improving confidentiality management tools or even removing editing functions. Fighting against cyberharassment is a vast project that concerns us all. But we must demand more from platforms, in accordance with the Digital Services Act, the European regulation which aims to promote the fight against online hatred.
If you are a victim or witness of cyberharassment, you can call 3018, seven days a week from 9 hours at 11 p.m. hours, or download the‘application 3018.
* Séverine Erhel is a lecturer in cognitive psychology at Rennes II University.
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