Cyberbullying Prevention in the Context of Digital Citizenship
The Council of Europe has designated 2025 as the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education, with a focus on education for being online, well-being online, and rights online. Cyberbullying is an issue that intersects with all three pillars of this initiative. As such, it provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the work of Project PARTICIPATE and the fundamental role of parents in both preventing cyberbullying and mitigating its effects.
The objectives of this initiative include setting common goals, sharing sense-making practices, assessing progress, and defining a roadmap for the future. It is a complex undertaking that calls for a collective effort to examine cyberbullying, its evolving nature, and the role parents play in supporting children online.
Evolving Trends in Cyberbullying and Youth Resilience
Recent research conducted by Parents International and its partners across seven countries (Cyprus, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Ukraine) in collaboration with the Council of Europe in Finland and Iceland has revealed an intriguing trend: children themselves report that cyberbullying and peer-to-peer bullying are diminishing. W this does not extend to bullying by teachers, it signals a potential shift in digital behaviour among youth.
This raises several key questions:
- Is this decline due to increased digital resilience?
- Have existing cyberbullying prevention programs been effective?
- Does parental education at home play a significant role?
The answers will become clearer as the PARTICIPATE Doctoral Candidates progress in their research. However, even if the reported decline is real, any single incident of cyberbullying still requires intervention, and future strategies must reflect these evolving dynamics.
The Role of Empathy, Digital Well-Being, and E-Presence
The well-being online pillar of the Council of Europe’s Digital Citizenship framework provides a strong foundation for identifying key priorities and actions for cyberbullying prevention.
- Ethics and Empathy in Digital Interactions
Developing ethical awareness and empathy is essential in preventing cyberbullying. Understanding the feelings and perspectives of others allows children and young people to build more compassionate digital communities. The PARTICIPATE project can further explore emerging trends in online behaviours and develop methods for strengthening empathy-based digital interactions.
- Digital Well-Being and Conscious Online Engagement
Awareness of the physical and mental impact of digital technology is crucial. Conscious engagement with digital spaces helps young people recognize how their actions affect themselves and others.
A notable trend has emerged: while older teenagers and young adults continue to engage in public online spaces, students under 14 report a significant decrease in their public online activities compared to previous years. The youngest digitally active generation appears to refrain from sharing personal content and shows a greater reluctance to engage in behaviors that may harm others’ well-being. Understanding and supporting this shift is vital in shaping effective cyberbullying prevention efforts.
- E-Presence, Communication, and Parental Support
Developing positive online presences and communication skills is where the most impact can be made. Research consistently shows that children and young people prefer support from adults rather than peers—even during their most independent, rebellious phases. Notably, they view their parents as the most reliable support system, while teachers are often perceived as lacking the necessary skills to provide guidance on online issues.
Shaping the Future of Cyberbullying Prevention
The PARTICIPATE project, its Doctoral Candidates, leading researchers, and associated partners are committed to making a significant contribution to the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education. Through ongoing research, participation in key events, and collaborative initiatives, the project aims to deepen the understanding of cyberbullying prevention and digital resilience.
🔗 Learn more about the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education: https://europeanyear2025.coe.int/
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