Social media and online communication: digital moral courage desired

Professor von Salisch, what does the term cyberbullying mean?

Maria von Salisch: Cyberbullying refers to the repeated, intentional harming of a person on the internet. Visibility, anonymity and persistence act as a turbo. The internet forgets nothing. Anonymity disinhibits: people write insults on the internet that they would not otherwise dare to write. They know that it is difficult to be prosecuted. Unlike in the schoolyard, where teachers could intervene.

How does hate speech differ from cyberbullying?

Hate speech includes derogatory comments based on assigned group characteristics such as religion, skin color or sexual orientation. Hate speech is therefore less personal than cyberbullying.

You also deal with sexting in your book. What does that mean?

Sexting refers to sending intimate images, such as nude photos. If young people have taken and sent pictures of themselves, that's not a problem, but rather part of exploring themselves as a young person – as long as it remains between the people involved and is consensual. However, if the material is distributed in class chat for reasons of revenge or a need for recognition, for example, this defames the person depicted. Girls are often affected, and then they have to justify themselves: Why did you trust this boy in the first place? The loss of reputation is enormous. The vulnerable side of a personality is revealed, especially when it is emerging. In addition, anyone who forwards these photos or videos is liable to prosecution. Many young people don't know this.

What is cybergrooming?

Cybergrooming is practiced by 95 percent male adults. They gain the trust of children with a fake profile, for example. The aim of many pedophiles is to meet the child in person in order to abuse them. Socially anxious children with a small circle of friends are particularly at risk. They look for new friends on the internet and have no idea that the person claiming to be nine years old is actually 35.

What are the psychological consequences of online attacks?

In principle, online attacks can hurt just as much as personal attacks in the schoolyard. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, self-harm and even suicidal thoughts can result. Sexting or cyberbullying can also lead to truancy. Why go to school if I'm just going to be picked on in class anyway? More than 50 percent of young people in secondary schools have already experienced cyberbullying. Hate speech may be less personal, but children and young people experience hate speech as a norm shift because it is rarely punished.

How can children protect themselves or be protected?

Today's parents grew up with the internet and are therefore aware of many dangers. They should look at content on the internet together with the child or young person: “A funny Tiktok video? Show it to me!” Younger children in particular need to be warned not to share anything personal on the internet, such as the name of their school, their hometown or their sports club. Children and young people need to learn to protect their privacy.

What can other children and young people do?

So-called bystanders play an important role. They can help those affected by showing moral courage and intervening in the schoolyard or on the internet, reporting to teachers or supporting those affected as a conversation partner. It is crucial that children and young people recognize a situation as abusive and harmful and know what they can do. Schools can play an important role here. One of my students surveyed prospective teachers and social pedagogues: They already knew a lot about cybergrooming, but they wanted more training.

At the end of last year, Australia decided that young people under the age of 16 would no longer be allowed to use social media in the future. What do you think of such a ban?

I think it is neither enforceable nor sensible. Social media is part of our reality. Children and young people need to learn how to behave in the face of risks of interaction. For social media profiles, I advocate legally binding technical solutions such as mandatory age statements, similar to buying cigarettes from vending machines, because this would eliminate fake profiles. Upload filters and warnings before uploading problematic content can prevent impulsive behavior. Of course, such blocks can be broken, but it creates a hurdle.

And we need stricter laws. Bullying is not a criminal offense in Germany; in Austria, on the other hand, it is.

Thank you for the interview!