The National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) has released a new publication titled Cyberbullying – It’s Not Cool to Harm Others, as communicated by NMHH’s Communications Directorate in a statement on Wednesday.
They emphasized that according to research,
one in six 15–16-year-old children have already experienced online abuse,
making it crucial to address the issue of cyberbullying.
Online abuse is one of the most common dangers children may encounter during their online presence, they added. NMHH noted that online abuse does not end with school, and it has no spatial or temporal limits. Furthermore, anyone can become a victim for various reasons.
The abusive process can have many serious and long-term psychological effects on the victim, NMHH pointed out. The statement explained that in many cases, children may not immediately realize that they are in an abusive situation, as there are situations where it might be challenging to distinguish harmless banter from actual abuse.
For all these reasons, it is particularly important for children to understand the nature of the phenomenon, be aware of what constitutes cyberbullying, be informed about the negative effects and consequences from both the victim’s and the perpetrator’s side, and learn how to reduce exposure to online abuse and where to turn for help, they stressed.
‘It is crucial to emphasize that we are responsible for our actions in the online space, so it is always worth remembering that our words and deeds in the virtual realm can cause just as much harm as in our everyday lives,’ Árpád Varga, NMHH’s child protection analyst was quoted in the statement.
In addition to raising awareness of the dangers of cyberbullying,
NMHH’s latest 16-page publication, primarily aimed at children but recommended for everyone, seeks to provide assistance
to young people on how to be responsible and conscious media users.
Cyberbullying, also known as online harassment, is one of the most common online dangers that children may encounter during their online activities. Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying for reasons beyond their control. The effects of cyberbullying can have significant and long-term psychological consequences for the victims.
Children may sometimes find it challenging to realize they are being harassed, so it is crucial for children to understand the nature of cyberbullying, recognize what constitutes cyberbullying, be aware of the negative impacts and consequences for both victims and perpetrators, and know how to reduce their exposure to online harassment and where to seek help should it happen.
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Sources: Hungarian Conservative/NMHH
