Three quarters (76%) of UK children believe that social media and gaming platforms should do more to change how they deal with bullying, and almost half (48%) say their schools should do more, according to new research released by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, supported by O2 UK.
Released ahead of Anti-Bullying Week (11-15 November), the 'Change Starts With Us' research is based on a poll of more than 1,000 11-16 year olds. It found that one quarter (24%) of children have been bullied once a week or more over the last six months, with 3 percent saying they are bullied every day. The research shows that many children miss school and avoid spending time with friends to avoid bullying.
For children who have been bullied, the main flashpoints are at school (835), time spent online (30%), and journeys to/from school (26%). Young people want schools and educational settings to record how much bullying is taking place and understand bullying 'hotspots'. They also want social media and online gaming platforms to set children's default privacy settings to the highest level; and believe that the media and influencers should use their power responsibly and portray real life instead of an ideal.
