Study: 15% of boys have been harassed online at least once in the past few months (Shutterstock)

A study published by the World Health Organization - today, Wednesday - revealed that about 16% of children between the ages of 11 and 15 said that they were subjected to online harassment in 2022, a number that witnessed an increase compared to what was recorded 4 years ago.

The organization's regional director, Hans Kluge, warned in the statement that "this report constitutes a wake-up call and calls on all of us to combat harassment and violence anywhere and at any time."

A previous study titled “Healthy Behavior in School-Aged Children” and based on data dating back to 2018 reported that 13% of cases of cyberbullying were recorded in this age group.

16% of children between the ages of 11 and 15 were exposed to online harassment in 2022 (Shutterstock)

Online harassment

The study stated that 15% of boys and 16% of girls said that they had been harassed online once, at least during the past few months.

The World Health Organization stated that the highest levels were recorded in boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland and Moldova, while the lowest levels were in boys in Spain.

One in eight teenagers admitted to being harassed online by one or more teenagers, a number that has increased by 3 points since 2018, according to the report.

The report included 279,000 children and adolescents, from 44 countries and regions across Europe, Central Asia and Canada.

In most countries, online harassment peaks at age 11 for boys and 13 for girls.

In addition, no significant difference was recorded based on the socio-professional categories of the parents.

The percentage of physical harassment of children at school is stable at 11% (Pixels)

Physical harassment in schools

On the other hand, the numbers related to physical harassment remained constant, as 11% of those surveyed said that they had been subjected to harassment at school during 2022.

While this percentage reached 10% in the study conducted 4 years ago, according to the report published today.

The World Health Organization confirmed that the “Covid-19” pandemic has changed the way teenagers interact with harassment.

Demands for the adoption of laws to regulate the work of social media to limit the exposure of minors to harassment (Shutterstock)

Bullying at school

27% of girls from 20% of the least affluent families reported that they had been bullied at school, compared to 21% of girls from 20% of affluent families.

The report stressed "the need to invest more in monitoring different forms of peer violence."

He concluded, "There is an urgent need to educate young people, families, and schools about the forms of cyberbullying and its effects, while approving laws to regulate the work of social media with the aim of reducing exposure to online harassment."

Source: French