FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Anti-Bullying Charity Announce Findings of Largest Ever Cyberbullying Survey. The largest ever survey of cyberbullying will be published on October 2nd 2013 by national anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label. The survey reveals that 69% of young people have been victims of cyberbullying, a figure much higher than previously reported. New research also shows that young males and females are equally at risk of cyberbullying and that young people are twice as likely to be bullied on Facebook than on any other social network. Ditch the Label’s Annual Cyberbullying Survey 2013 sampled 10,008 young people, aged between 13 – 22 years old (of which 67% were from the UK, 17% from the USA, 12% from Australia and 4% from other countries). The survey was conducted in partnership with Habbo Hotel, the largest teen community in the world. Ditch the Label provide a virtual “Bullying Support Centre” for the social networking service, which is accessed by over 30,000 teens worldwide each week. The report identified the different levels of cyberbullying across different social networks. Findings show that: • 7 out of 10 young people have been victims of cyberbullying. • 37% young people have experienced cyberbullying on a highly frequent basis • 20% of young people have experienced extreme cyberbullying on a daily basis • Young people are found to be twice as likely to be bullied on Facebook than on any other social network. • Facebook, Twitter and Ask.FM are found to be the most common social networks for cyberbullying. • 54% of young people using Facebook reported that they have experienced bullying on the network. • 28% of young people using Twitter reported that they have experienced bullying on the network. • 26% of young people using Ask.FM have experienced bullying on the network. • Cyberbullying is found to have catastrophic effects upon the self-esteem and social lives of up to 69% of young people. • An estimated 5.43 million young people in the UK have experienced cyber bullying with 1.26 million subjected to extreme cyber bullying on a daily basis. • New research shows that young males and females are equally at risk. Liam Hackett, who founded the Ditch the Label anti-bullying charity after being a victim of bullying himself says, “Our report has identified that cyber bullying is on the increase. It is seriously damaging the self-esteem and the future prospects of young people and is an issue we cannot afford to overlook. Social networks have a moral obligation and a duty of care to their users to implement tight mechanisms of flagging and reporting systems for cyber bullying, although we all have a responsibility and an opportunity to help fix this.” Professor Ian Rivers is a psychologist, author and Professor of Human Development and Head of School of Sport and Education at Brunel University. Ian has been researching bullying behaviour in the UK and the USA for twenty years and has published several books on the subject. Ian says, “ This survey demonstrates that young people remain vulnerable online. It is worrying that almost 1 in 4 young people are victims of cyberbullying on a daily basis through social media sites and it is important that those who manage these sites recognise their responsibility to protect young people from harassment. Of significance is the fact that this study shows that bullying via social media is a global phenomenon and it is important that we recognise how vulnerable minority youth are online, particularly trans youth who are, perhaps for the first time represented in a study of cyberbullying.” The Annual Cyberbullying Report 2013 is available to download at: ditchthelabel.org/annual-cyber-bullying-survey-cyber-bullying-statistics/ - Ends – For further information please contact Pandora George at Bullet PR [email protected] 01273 504704, 07729 469220 About Ditch the Label Ditch the Label is nationwide anti-bullying charity. They provide support to thousands of vulnerable young people both online and offline, working with schools, colleges and media outlets to help reduce the effect and prominence of bullying within the UK and to teach young people that it is okay to be different. Ditch the Label operate their own social network for the victims of bullying to come and share advice and support and will be launching an online professional counselling service in the next few months. The social network currently has over 35,000 members. Ditch the Label also work closely with British schools and colleges, providing them with research and consultancy services. 2013 has also marked the first year of their Annual Bullying Survey, of which a sample of over 2,000 British students were asked about their experiences of bullying. The report is available on the website, ditchthelabel.org. Celebrity ambassadors include Gok Wan, Dr Christian Jessen and Paralympian, Hannah Stodel. Objectives: 1. To build a complex understanding of bullying through extensive research and involvement with young people so that they can effectively work towards tackling it and identifying future trends. 2. To reduce the prominence and effect of bullying within the UK’s education system through work with schools, colleges, the Government, organisations, parents and youths. 3. To inspire and educate young people towards their ethos of equality and philanthropy, promoting self-acceptance and self-love.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 07:30:00 +0000
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