The question "What is cyberbullying and how can we stop it?" has become crucial in today's digital age. Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying often occur concurrently, with the latter leaving a digital footprint. Both forms of bullying threaten students' physical and emotional safety and can significantly impact their academic and social success at school.

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Creating a safe school environment where bullying and cyberbullying are not tolerated is essential. This environment includes parents and the community as partners in bullying prevention and the management of a Bullying Prevention School Plan.

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Digital technologies have profoundly transformed childhood and adolescence. The internet, smartphones, tablets, digital games, messaging apps, and social media platforms are now integral to the lives of young people. These digital advancements bring a range of risks and harms that have changed students' education and learning experiences, making cyberbullying a pervasive issue that can arise anytime and anywhere there is internet access.

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Initiatives like Safer Internet Day have become significant events worldwide, aiming to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns. These activities promote safer and more responsible use of online technology by children, young people, and students, helping to address the main problems of bullying and cyberbullying.

Bullying and cyberbullying are preventable. Various factors can increase or decrease the risk of experiencing bullying. It is crucial to understand and address these factors to protect students from violence. Teachers' competencies and skills in this area are vital for promoting a healthy environment, a caring school climate, and a safe school environment.

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Teachers and other educational professionals often encounter children who are rejected by their peers, teased for their differences, or victims of physical violence. Feelings of rejection, fear, shame, and anger are common consequences these children may experience. These children cannot fully stand up to violence on their own. It is up to adults—parents, teachers, professionals—to be sensitive to this serious problem and ensure that no form of violence is tolerated in school corridors, leaving a lasting impact on children's development.

The frequent use of the internet and social media has led to both positive and negative social changes and habits. Online platforms have become a space for a new form of peer-to-peer violence: cyberbullying. Cyberbullying involves using digital technologies to repeatedly scare, anger, or shame those targeted. While face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying often occur together, cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint that can provide evidence to help stop the abuse.

By promptly identifying, stopping, and preventing violence, we help children overcome the consequences of violence and convey a clear message that their well-being matters to us and that we live in a society that does not tolerate any form of violence.

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In addition to cyberbullying, social media, video games, and similar internet products pose a risk for developing behavioral addictions. Behavioral addictions are a relatively new phenomenon in social sciences. Recent years have seen more intensive research into this type of addiction, particularly in areas like gambling, the internet, video games, sex, sexual content, and shopping. Identifying behavioral addictions is challenging because they involve legal, desirable, and often healthy behaviors and habits (e.g., shopping, using the internet, exercising). The key question is how and where to draw the line when normal behavior becomes an addiction, and what criteria must be met for behavior to be considered an addiction.

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This course combines theoretical background with practical workshops and activities. Participants will be equipped with tools and strategies to apply in their schools, incorporate into preventive programs, or use in daily teaching activities. The goal is to empower educators to create a safer, more supportive environment for all students, free from bullying and behavioral addictions.

 

The main goal of this course is to increase participants’ awareness of cyberbullying and equip them with the knowledge and skills to build a positive school and classroom environment to prevent, reduce, and stop bullying and cyberbullying. This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of both bullying and behavioral addictions through a theoretical background, focusing on:

Theoretical Background: Understanding the dynamics of bullying and behavioral addictions, including their causes, effects, and long-term impacts on students.

Warning Signs: Identifying the warning signs of both bullies and victims to facilitate early detection and intervention.

Risk and Protective Factors: Exploring the factors that may increase or decrease the likelihood of bullying and cyberbullying, and understanding how to enhance protective factors to safeguard students.

Identification, Prevention, and Early Interventions: Learning strategies for identifying, preventing, and intervening early in cases of bullying and behavioral addictions to mitigate harm and support affected students effectively.

 

Other course goals are:

• summarize the most important facts about bullying and cyberbullying

• be aware of social and cultural perspectives on bullying

• be conscious of threats in the digital world

• learn how the school can help students navigate the digital world and understand cyberbullying

• better understanding of bullying prevention and equity and inclusive responsibilities

• organizing better and safer surroundings for students

• enhance collaboration and networking