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Crackdown on cyber-bullying announced by government |
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Friday, 21 September 2007 |
 Cyber-bullying is rife and must be checked, the government said yesterday as it launched a new initiative aimed at countering the problem.
Threats, taunting and name-calling on websites are on the rise, prompting the launch of an official online anti-bullying campaign.
Citing astonishing figures which say that more than one third of 12 to 15-year-olds have suffered from internet bullying, schools secretary Ed Balls added that even teachers were also not immune from victimisation.
Malicious posts on social networking sites and other web pages have led to many feeling "belittled and bullied", he said in a statement.
Mr Balls added: "Bullying evolves as society and technology changes, so schools need to get to grips with newer forms of bullying and the different impact these have on the victim."
The general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers Mick Brookes agreed, saying that cyber bullying "will not be tolerated in any shape or form. It is the same as playground bullying but it can, in some instances, be more damaging".
Tips on beating the bullies are also to be given out to pupils - and a special training video will also be made available to teachers on the subject, the government says.
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