4 in 10 Indians unaware of cyberbullying: Study

While awareness about cyberbullying has increased in India by 10 percentage points in the past seven years, 37 per cent of adults in the country have still not heard of it, says a new study.

Globally, 25 per cent of adults are unaware of cyberbullying, according to the "Global Advisor Cyberbullying Study" on Tuesday by market research firm Ipsos.

"Cyberbullying is a grave issue and the child can be a victim not only on social networking sites, but also on mobile, online messaging, email, websites, online chatrooms, etc.," said Parijat Chakraborty, Executive Director, Ipsos Public Affairs.

The findings also revealed that the percentage of parents who reported having a child or knowing a child in their community who has experienced cyberbullying has increased in India since 2011.

One in two parents in the current survey reported knowing a child in their community who had been cyberbullied, up from 45 per cent in 2011.

Notably, 37 per cent Indian respondents this year said their own child has experienced cyberbullying -- up from a 32 per cent in 2011, the results showed.

The study carried out in 28 countries is based on over 20,000 interviews of adults conducted between March 23 and April 6 this year.

Awareness about cyberbullying is the highest in Sweden and Italy (91 per cent each) and lowest in Saudi Arabia (37 per cent), the findings showed.

The study defined cyberbullying as when a child or group of children (under the age of 18) intentionally intimidate, offend, threaten, or embarrass another child or group of children, through the use of information technology, such as a website or chatroom on the Internet, a cellular phone, or another mobile device.

--IANS

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