Cyber bullying ‘has risen in last ten years’
Cyber bullying is on the rise because children are using technology as a main method of communication, according to one expert.
Richard Piggin, deputy chief executive officer of Beatbullying, an anti-bullying charity, said that in comparison to ten years ago, the rate of bullying between peers has gone up and that this is largely to do with the wider availability of the technologies used to do so.
He commented: "It can be used to bully someone, to target someone, to make them feel bad. It is the most common problem faced by young people online. Cyber bullying is the thing they are most worried about."
Most youngsters spend time on social networking sites and this is a prime place for abuse to take place between friends and classmates.
Mr Piggin added that although networking sites have many benefits and have revolutionised communication, they have to be taken with some air of caution too.
To mark the start of Anti-Bullying Week 2012, Beatbullying is mobilising thousands of people from around the world, including celebrities, politicians, charities and businesses to launch The Big March 2012 in a bid to raise awareness of the cause.
