Humiliating videos and photos, offensive messages and hate speech online. A majority of the population sees cyberbullying as a major issue and favors a stricter legislative framework, an online poll by the Civey Research Institute shows. 2,500 adults from all over Germany took part in the survey on behalf of the “Help Against Cyberbullying” association in the city of Schwerte.

About 76 percent of respondents consider cyberbullying to be an important issue, association president Lukas Poland told the German news agency dpa. From the responses of the respondents, it is evident that there is a strong dissatisfaction with the existing laws: 64.5% consider that the current criminal legislation is not sufficient to effectively protect the victims. At the same time, 64% of respondents believe that establishing a separate criminal offense for cyberbullying is the most effective measure to combat the problem.

Many countries have laws against cyberbullying. But not Germany. The majority of the population wants decisive legal measures and more protection, which means they give a clear mandate to the politicians, sums up the results of the poll in just a few words, 20-year-old Lukas Poland.

“Many are unaware that they are committing a criminal offence”

The “Alliance Against Cyberbullying” in Karlsruhe believes that a special law against cyberbullying is needed in Germany, as it already exists in many other countries. For example in Austria and France. The head of the “Alliance” Uwe Leest even states

to dpa that many are not even aware that they are committing a criminal offense when they post defamatory photos online and make malicious comments.

According to Uwe Leest, “anyone can become a victim of online bullying”. However, younger people are more affected: In the age group of 10 to 18 years, it can be assumed that a percentage of 16% to 18% may be a victim of cyberbullying. Particularly common are experiences of cyberbullying in adolescence, in which 25% to 30% have been a victim. Cyberbullying has many effects, such as anxiety, withdrawal, absence from school, anger, eating disorders, depression and even suicidal tendencies, says Uwe Leest: “In cyberbullying we mainly experience psychological trauma. There are no ways out of such burdens.”

Lukas Poland, together with his peers, but also younger like-minded people (aged 16-21), created an online platform to provide advice to children and young people who have suffered online bullying a few years ago. “It turns out that when peers take on an advisory role, our efforts are successful,” says association president Lucas Poland.

The role of parents and schools is important

Lukasz Poland cannot, however, accept that federal justice minister Marko Busman rejected in July the creation of a separate offense for cyberbullying despite the fact that state justice ministers had backed the proposal. Justifying his stance, the liberal minister Marco Busman stated that the rule of law already has enough means and that what is required is the consistent investigation of such offenses as well as the referral of the perpetrators to the courts.

Parents, as well as schools, have an important role in dealing with the phenomenon. The “Alliance Against Cyberbullying” in Karlsruhe is active in around 200 schools every year. Alliance president Uwe Leest believes that expelling offenders from school sends a clear message in all directions: “It’s time for the internet to stop being a den of impunity.”

Editor: Stefanos Georgakopoulos