Estimated reading time: 21 minutes
Smartphones connect young people with their friends and accompany them wherever they go. However, they can also lead to ridicule, embarrassing images and deliberate exclusion. This guide helps you, as a parent or carer, to recognise cyberbullying, equip your child with the tools to prevent it, and respond calmly and effectively if you notice any cyberbullying taking place.
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place in the digital world, such as in a class chat group or on social media. It involves someone being repeatedly insulted, humiliated, threatened or excluded. Sometimes rumours are spread about that person, or they may even be blackmailed. The bully and the victim usually know each other. And it is not uncommon for cyberbullying to have its origins in the real world.
Bullying is not a new phenomenon. With cyberbullying, however, the 24/7 accessibility of young people and the hidden nature of the incidents in private messages or group chats add to the strain. Most young people have their own smartphone and have shifted some of their social interactions online. As a result, they are reachable via messages after school, including for digital forms of bullying. This means they no longer have the safe haven of their own home, even though this would be so important for those affected to recover from the attacks and regain their strength.
The fact that bullying continues online amplifies its impact: cyberbullying messages spread faster and last longer online than when someone is verbally abused in the playground or in the classroom. Once something is online, it is almost impossible to control. This is because images can be downloaded and shared further. As a result, even if everyone makes up, the derogatory images may suddenly resurface. Moreover, many perpetrators no longer shy away from using deepfakes. On the contrary: the new possibilities offered by AI-generated image manipulation are actually fuelling the problem in many places.
On the anonymous web, it is also easier for perpetrators to be mean because they do not have to look their counterpart in the eye. They are only accountable to the image they have formed of the other person – not to the person themselves. Many perpetrators do not even reveal their true identities, but hide behind a fake profile.
After an argument at school, someone writes in the class chat: ‘Nobody likes you here. You’re just a pain.’ Others react with laughing emojis. The next day, the person involved can hardly bring themselves to go to school.
Whilst playing online games, a boy is repeatedly insulted because he is supposedly a poor player. Others kick him out of the team, make fun of his voice and record the whole thing.
A teenage girl is deliberately removed from the class chat. Afterwards, others write: ‘She’s finally gone.’ She no longer receives important information and feels excluded.
A pupil is secretly photographed after PE, or a corresponding AI-generated image is created. The image is shared in a chat group and accompanied by comments. Although it is later deleted, many people have already seen or saved it. And even if an AI-generated image isn’t real, it can still be very distressing for the person concerned in this situation.
Someone creates a fake profile using the name and photo of a classmate. Embarrassing comments are posted via this profile. Others believe the posts are genuine.
In a group, it is claimed that a young person has stolen something or betrayed someone. There is no evidence, but the rumour spreads quickly. More and more people are shunning him.
Cyberbullying focuses on belittling, excluding, insulting or threatening an individual. It typically takes place in a semi-public setting.
Hate speech focuses on denigrating individuals or groups on the basis of identity characteristics such as origin, gender or appearance. It typically takes place in public spaces (e.g. social media, comments sections, etc.).
More on hate speech
Digital violence is an umbrella term that includes, for example, cyberbullying, doxing, stalking, sextortion, threats or the dissemination of intimate content.
More on digital violence
Cyberbullying, hate speech and digital violence sometimes overlap. For example, when a female pupil is excluded by her classmates and insulted online because of aspects of her identity.
For victims, cyberbullying usually causes serious psychological distress. They feel increasingly sad and anxious.
Many lose their self-confidence as a result of the attacks, develop depression or, in the worst cases, even have suicidal thoughts.
Even a single incident can be enough to cause this, as content can be stored online, shared and made visible again and again. Compared to traditional bullying, this endless loop has a significant amplifying effect, which has a negative impact on the victims.
Note: If your child is struggling, help is available round the clock, free of charge and anonymously, on 147 (Pro Juventute emergency helpline for children and young people).
Other young people, on the other hand, become angry and take their frustration out on others. Some end up becoming cyberbullies themselves in this way.
In Pro Juventute’s recently published ‘Youth Study 2026’, around one in five young people stated that they were afraid of cyberbullying. There are clear gender-specific differences: among girls and young women (27.4% ) the fear was twice as high as among boys (14%).
Very few people simply decide on a whim to pick on someone. Instead, the reasons behind cyberbullying often run deeper and are similar to those behind hate speech.
Many perpetrators are completely unaware of how much they hurt the other person with their comments when they speak disparagingly about them. They might find it funny, thinking it’s just a joke. Or they simply don’t realise when the fun stops.
People who put others down feel bigger and more important within the group and want to come across as ‘cool’. Other young people go along with it to fit in (followers). Some of them do so out of fear that they themselves might become victims if they stood up for the victims.
It is not uncommon for unresolved emotional experiences to be passed on to others. In practical terms, this means that anyone who has been bullied themselves and is unable to cope with their emotions is more likely to bully others.
If the young people’s social circle habitually disregards others and speaks ill of them, young people pick up on this and internalise this attitude. A lack of consequences also encourages cyberbullying.
Digital distance lowers the threshold for cyberbullying, as it is difficult to empathise through a screen. If you cannot see the person you are talking to, you do not realise how deeply a comment might hurt them. Tears remain hidden, so the perpetrators do not have to face up to the interpersonal consequences. As a result, they are less likely to experience pangs of conscience, and the attacks, in turn, become faster and harsher.
What begins as bullying in the school playground can shift online with the first class or group chat, or when a child gets their first smartphone. Preventing cyberbullying must therefore start at an early stage. Adult role models can play a significant part in this. Whether at home or at school, parents and teachers have a major influence on young people’s attitudes and behaviour.
Unfortunately, there is no 100% guarantee that you can protect your child from cyberbullying. But there are things you can do to help your child become more resilient and know how to respond if they or others are being cyberbullied.
If your child feels valued just as they are, they won’t feel the need to put themselves above others in order to feel better about themselves. Boost your child’s self-esteem by finding activities you can do together, where your child can express themselves and flourish. Words of appreciation and genuine praise can also boost a child’s self-confidence.
Language raises awareness: if you have a term for cyberbullying, you’re better able to recognise it when it happens. This helps children and young people to understand the phenomenon better. So make sure you teach your child the term. For younger children (up to 12 years old), the story ‘The Young Swan and the (Really) Ugly Ducklings’(opens in new tab) is ideal; for older children and young people: ‘Staying Safe Online: Everything You Need to Know’(opens in new tab) by the Swiss Crime Prevention Organisation (SKP).
Children learn from the people around them. So set an example for your child by treating others with empathy yourself. Explain the impact a particular comment can have on others and why online etiquette is important.
A small number of people set the tone when it comes to cyberbullying, whilst the rest of the group follows suit for various reasons. Explain to your child that this sort of group dynamic can only work as long as everyone goes along with it. Emphasise how important it is to follow one’s own inner moral compass and to stand up to group dynamics and peer pressure where necessary. Doing so is easier if your child has healthy self-confidence.
Practise together how your child can defend themselves if they were suddenly to become the target. Taking a firm stance and communicating it clearly can be one such strategy. For example, this might involve your child responding with ‘I don’t see it that way’ or ‘That’s not fair’ if they or someone else is attacked. Another option is to know how to report and block comments or profiles on the relevant platform.
Many young people are unaware that insults, threats or the sharing of certain images may be a criminal offence. Explaining the legal consequences (in an age-appropriate manner, depending on their age) is a sensible preventive measure.
If young people are themselves affected by cyberbullying or are suffering in other ways, they may not want to come to you, their parent, about it. Perhaps out of shame, perhaps for other reasons. This makes it all the more important that your child knows: there are impartial organisations that are always happy to help. At Pro Juventute, young people can get advice free of charge and anonymously(opens in new tab), via WhatsApp, by phone or by email, whichever they prefer. School social workers are also there to address any questions or concerns. It’s reassuring to know where to turn before you actually need to
Once something is online, it’s almost impossible to take it back. So, depending on your child’s age, go through the settings together – or let your child do so on their own – to check who can see their online posts, and set profiles to ‘private’ wherever possible. Discuss which photos, videos and information are best kept off the internet – particularly those that could be used against your child later on.
Of course, you don’t have complete control over everything here: a photo could also be taken at school which, in the worst-case scenario, could be used against your child. This makes it all the more important that your child is familiar with the platforms’ reporting functions so that they can report unwanted content immediately.
Sharenting is a portmanteau of ‘share’ and ‘parenting’ and refers to the phenomenon of parents or other caregivers sharing pictures of their children online. This often results in personal data ending up on the internet. Or photos that adults find cute, but which the child finds embarrassing. Such images can also be misused for cyberbullying.
Show a genuine interest in your child’s life. Ask what’s on their mind, and talk about both the good and the difficult experiences. Over time, this will build trust, giving your child the feeling that if anything’s wrong, they can turn to their parents.
This first-hand account by a mother, published on the ‘Jugend und Medien’ website, describes how a 14-year-old deals with hate on Snapchat (and remains more composed than her mother in the process). It shows just how much an open dialogue at home and support from others can help.
As well as involving a child’s own circle of friends and peers they know, cyberbullying is often linked to school and the class. Schools therefore play a vital role in prevention. For example, they can foster a sense of belonging and a stable class environment. Trusted adults act as a protective factor, ensuring that exclusion (both offline and online) does not occur in the first place.
In schools with an open, respectful culture of dialogue, children and young people are also more likely to feel confident enough to confide in someone. This makes it easier for them to approach a support figure when something is on their mind. A set procedure for such incidents takes the pressure off these support figures (such as class teachers or social education workers).
The ‘Youth and Media’ platform provides teaching materials on cyberbullying for teachers. One striking format that can also be used for educational purposes is the play #byebitch, in which the Stick Around collective focuses in particular on the importance of moral courage in the context of cyberbullying.
Work with the class to draw up clear rules that apply to the class chat. Also set out binding consequences that will be enforced should cyberbullying nevertheless occur.
In both hate speech and cyberbullying, those who are not actively involved but are listening or watching play a crucial role. Through their silence, they reinforce the exclusion. If, on the other hand, bystanders show moral courage and intervene, this can defuse cyberbullying (just as it can with hate speech). Sometimes it is enough simply to say: ‘I don’t see it that way.’ In doing so, bystanders offer emotional support to the victims.
It is important that children and young people know who to turn to in an emergency. Various support services can therefore be introduced in class as a preventative measure.
No problem. As part of our media courses, our trainers will visit your school and talk to your class about cyberbullying.
There are an increasing number of campaigns and initiatives aimed at raising public awareness of cyberbullying. Here is a selection:
Unfortunately, despite preventative measures, cyberbullying cannot always be stopped. As a key adult in a young person’s life, it is therefore important to remain vigilant. This is the only way you can spot changes in behaviour or signs of cyberbullying at an early stage and take action in good time.
The best starting point is a relationship of trust between you and your child. If such a relationship exists, your child will be able to open up to you about any problems and ask for your help. Yet even in the best of family relationships, many victims remain silent. Sometimes out of shame, out of fear, or simply because they don’t want to burden anyone with it. So what if your child doesn’t confide in you or denies being a victim of cyberbullying, yet you still suspect that something isn’t quite right?
Here are some warning signs of cyberbullying to look out for:
Individual changes may be normal during puberty. However, if several signs occur at the same time or over a prolonged period, seek advice in a safe and supportive environment.
Have you found out that your child is being bullied? It’s quite possible that you’re feeling a range of emotions right now. Take a deep breath first, because acting rashly won’t help your child at this moment. Here’s what you can do instead:
In fact, this happens more often than parents might hope. According to the 2024 JAMES study, around one in five young people has teased or made fun of someone online at some point. If you realise that your child is bullying others online, talk to them about it:
A parent tells you about it, or you witness cyberbullying in your class yourself. How should you respond?
Has someone been bullying you online and you don’t know how to defend yourself? It’s good that you’re finding out more, because you’re not helpless against them – quite the opposite. The best thing to do now is to confide in someone, even if you might feel ashamed because of the derogatory online content. Is there anyone in your circle who would listen to you without judging you? Parents, siblings, godparents, friends, your form tutor or a youth worker? If so, get in touch with them and tell them what’s happened and how you’re feeling.
If you can’t think of anyone you’d like to confide in right now, we recommend the Cyberbullying First Aid App(opens in new tab) from klicksafe (available on both iOS(opens in new tab) and Android(opens in new tab) devices; for people with disabilities, there’s the Cyberbullying Easy Help App). The coaches, Emilia and Tom, offer practical advice in short videos on what you can do right now. They’ll encourage you to take the next steps. And it’s best to report and block the content and senders of the hateful messages straight away.
Standing up to group dynamics can be very difficult. Nevertheless, it is important for bystanders to be aware of their responsibility and their influence. After all, they are often the decisive factor: if they stop laughing along or even break the silence by speaking out, the perpetrators suddenly find themselves isolated.
On the one hand, the fear of becoming a victim oneself when showing moral courage by standing up for the vulnerable is justified. On the other hand, there are many things bystanders can do to support those affected without putting themselves in danger. For example:
On social media platforms, you usually have the option to report and block people and content. Here are the guides for the most common platforms:
‘Cyberbullying’ is not (yet) a separate offence under the Swiss Criminal Code. Nevertheless, the internet is not a legal vacuum. As a general rule, what applies offline also applies online. Depending on the situation, cyberbullying may therefore constitute a criminal offence, in which case the following sections apply:
Any person who gains unauthorised access to another person’s data processing system is guilty of a criminal offence.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators gain access to their victims’ social media accounts in order to obtain images for use in cyberbullying.
Anyone who, without authorisation, alters, deletes or renders electronically stored data unusable shall be punished.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators delete their victims’ photos or chat histories from their smartphones.
A person is guilty of an offence if they use violence or threats to coerce someone into behaving in a certain way in order to enrich themselves unlawfully.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators threaten to publish embarrassing photos of the victim if the victim does not give them their morning snack.
Anyone who makes an allegation about someone that damages their reputation (without knowing whether it is even true) is liable to prosecution.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators write in the class chat that the victim has apparently stolen something, without knowing whether this is true.
Anyone who makes an allegation about someone that damages their reputation (without knowing whether it is even true) is liable to prosecution.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators write in the class chat that the victim has apparently stolen something, without knowing whether this is true.
Anyone who attacks another person’s honour, for example by using abusive language, will be punished upon complaint.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators repeatedly use abusive language to insult their victims in comments.
It is a criminal offence for anyone to observe or record, without authorisation, a matter relating to a person’s private or confidential life using a recording device.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators secretly film their victim in the changing room.
Anyone who, out of malice or wilful misconduct, misuses a telephone or similar device to harass someone is liable to prosecution upon complaint.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators bombard their victims with dozens of harassing messages and calls at night.
Any person who, without authorisation, obtains personal data requiring special protection and not freely accessible from a data collection is liable to prosecution.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators gain unauthorised access to the victim’s tests and school marks in order to humiliate them.
Anyone who causes another person to feel terror or fear by making a serious threat is liable to punishment.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators repeatedly write to the victim online, saying they are going to ‘beat them up’.
A person commits an offence if they force another person, through the use of violence or the threat of serious harm, to do, refrain from doing, or tolerate something.
Example of cyberbullying:
Perpetrators force their victim to hand over their mobile phone by threatening to post an embarrassing video.
A parliamentary initiative aimed at establishing cyberbullying as a separate criminal offence is currently being debated.
We have compiled further information and resources on the topic of ‘cyberbullying’ here.
JAMES Study 2024(opens in new tab)
Schweizerische Kriminalprävention(opens in new tab)
Pro Juventute(opens in new tab)
Kinderschutz Schweiz(opens in new tab)
Victim Support Switzerland(opens in new tab)
National Cyber Security Centre NCSC(opens in new tab)
Jugend und Medien(opens in new tab)
Parlamentarische Initiative «Neuer Straftatbestand Cybermobbing»(opens in new tab)