New kit to tackle cyberbullying among schoolchildren

Cyber-Scan devotes attention to prevention, detection, tackling approaches and aftercare. It outlines phases that schools have to go through, like looking at the current policy and setting up an action plan with concrete goals, roles and responsibilities.

Flanders’ centre for media literacy, Mediawijs, created Cyber-Scan with Antwerp University, whose research indicates that about one in 10 students has recently been a victim of cyberbullying. Most of the bullying takes place offline, but the phenomena are intertwined, with about 6.5% of those who are bullied online also being targeted offline.

Cyberbullying is difficult to punish as it’s more difficult for adults to spot – for example, if it takes place in closed Facebook groups – and takes place both in and outside school. It thus requires a specific strategy.

In a statement, Crevits said that a strong anti-bullying policy started with “the creation of a positive school climate that makes it possible to talk about bullying, and where students, teachers, directors and parents take their responsibility to stop the bullying”.

The government has invested €25,000 in the development of Cyber-Scan, which can be downloaded from 22 February. The Week Against Bullying runs until 24 February.

Photo: Ingimage