Children's charity 'shocked' as one in seven young people confess to bullying others online
The scale of online bullying amongst children has been laid bare in a new report compiled by charity Action for Children, which found that that the targeting of others for abuse was widespread amongst children.
Of 2,000 eight to 17 year-olds quizzed some 15 per cent conceded to having bullied someone at some point online, the bulk of whom (some 59 per cent) doing so in order to find favour with their social group.
Much of the remainder, 43 per cent, justified their actions as a means to deflect targeting of themselves for bullying by others. In all one in four of all respondents said they had been pressured into acting aggressively due to peer pressure with 12 per cent laying the blame for their actions on their own unhappiness.
Commenting on the 'shocking' report Action for Children head Deanna Neilson said: "Low self-esteem, stress at school or being victimised themselves by peers or adults are all reasons a child might act out on others.
"It's important for parents to ask children about the day they've had online, just as they ask about the day they've had at school - whether your child is being bullied or bullying others, the problem, and any potentially more severe issues surrounding it, must be addressed."
The results were released to coincide with Safer Internet Day.