Cyberbullying: what parents should know

A comment, a nasty message, a screenshot passed around — and suddenly the phone becomes a burden. The cruelty follows your child home, into their room, onto the device they can hardly put down. Cyberbullying is real for many teenagers, and parents can make a big difference here — by staying calm and standing beside their child.

What is cyberbullying, really?

Cyberbullying is recurring cruelty through chats, social networks or shared screenshots — insults, exclusion, humiliation in front of others — and therefore more than a single mean comment. Unlike the schoolyard, it doesn't stop at the school gate: it follows your child through the phone right into their own room.

How common is this?

Sadly common: a substantial share of teenagers have experienced some form of cyberbullying (JIM-Studie 2025). Since almost all own their own smartphone and spend a lot of time online, it can in principle happen to anyone. If it's happened to your child, they're part of a very large group — and none of it is a verdict on their worth.

When does cyberbullying become a burden?

It becomes a burden as soon as the constant checking robs your child of sleep, calm and their sense of safety — that knot in the stomach is a signal to act, not something to simply tough out. It's worth watching for signs like these:

Your child loses sleep over comments or messages.
They check compulsively to see what's been said about them.
They dread opening certain apps, or pull back from people.

When such patterns show up, that's the moment to step calmly but firmly to your child's side.

What does the research show?

The research shows that cyberbullying is linked to significantly higher rates of anxiety, low mood, and in severe cases suicidal thoughts. Because it happens around the clock and follows your child home, it removes the safe retreat that ordinary bullying at least left intact. That's exactly why it matters to look early — calmly, but firmly.

Why is it so hard to put down?

Because silence feels more dangerous than the cruelty itself: many keep checking, partly to know what's being said about them. But re-reading hateful comments is like pressing on a bruise — the monitoring keeps the wound fresh. This is understandable and no sign of weakness, but it keeps the pain alive.

What actually helps?

Above all, that no one has to get through this alone. Breaking the silence and finding allies starves bullying of what it feeds on. What works:

Secure evidence: take screenshots before blocking or deleting.
Block and report: this cuts off the supply of cruelty.
Mute the thread and stop scrolling through the comments.
Bring in a trusted adult and one real friend.
If needed, involve support services like klicksafe or a contact at school.

Why do these steps work?

Because they starve bullying of what it feeds on: blocking cuts the supply, while reporting and telling an adult turns a private burden into a problem with allies and consequences. Bullying feeds on isolation and secrecy — breaking the silence takes its power away. As a parent, your most important job is to stay calm and show: „You're not alone with this, we'll sort it out together.“

What is worth talking about?

Above all safety and warmth — not pressure or blame. In a calm moment, start with sentences that show you're standing beside your child:

„If someone hurts you online — you can always come to me, no blame at all.“
„Shall we look together at what can be reported and blocked?“
„You don't have to carry this alone — we'll find a way together.“

This is exactly where Digital Mastery comes in: both sides rate the same everyday life and see where the online world really becomes a burden — a fair basis for a conversation as equals, in which your child feels safe enough to talk about the hard things.

Hate and cyberbullying online: what parents should know