CYBER STATISTICS
According to the US
2014 research:
• Only 15 per cent of parents think that their child is safe online
• 47 per cent of parents are concerned about their child being
bullied online
• Half of parents think their child may have been bullied online –
15 per cent know this for certain
• 44 per cent of parents think their child may be a cyberbully, and
13 per cent have been told that their child is a cyberbully
• Girls and boys are equally vulnerable to cyberbullying, though
any child over 12 is especially vulnerable given their increased
access to the internet and communication tools within it
• Children who may be already isolated or have experienced
significant maltreatment may be more at risk as they may be
keen to escape their own reality
in Hong Kong. Instead, tort law
can be used, such as the law against
defamation of character. However,
investigating these types of cases can
be a huge drain on police resources
with little guarantee of a conviction at
the end. In addition, people are often
not well informed of their rights.
Punishment for these crimes is
often complex too, as it overlaps
with freedom of speech legislation,
and there is much debate about how
you measure the impact of these
crimes on the victim. Does sending
some nasty messages online deserve
criminal intervention? Is it worse to
send a sexually explicit image or a
humiliating message? In addition,
many victims do not realise that
cyberbullying is a crime, and they
may also be too embarrassed or
ashamed to seek support.
Signs and symptoms
Does your child appear upset after
using a computer or being online?
Does your child appear afraid to
go to school? Is your child acting
nervously, losing confidence, or
becoming distressed and withdrawn?
Is your child experiencing problems
with eating or sleeping? Perhaps your
child might have withdrawn from
their social circle? Cyberbullies often
act anonymously, which adds to the
insecurity and lack of control for the
victim. Abuse often occurs while the
child is at home, so there is no safe
haven for your child.
You know your child best, so
no one indicator should be taken
as absolute proof of cyberbullying.
However, if you notice several of these
changes in your child, it may be worth
investigating further.
The impact of bullying of any
kind on a child can be devastating.
Children can become anxious,
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