Two-Thirds of Children Say Cyberbullying Is Rising

Young people across the world are facing an increase in cyberbullying.

Around two-thirds of children worldwide say cyberbullying has increased, while one in two report that they do not know how to access the right support, according to a recent poll conducted by the UN’s top official working to end violence against children.

The report highlights “alarming trends” and underscores “the urgent need for the entire online ecosystem to act faster and work together to protect children,” said the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric.

The findings come at a time when children face growing risks linked to conflicts, displacement, poverty and rising levels of violence.

“We meet today once again in a challenging world, where children are paying the highest price,” said Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, while launching the report at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday.

AI ‘fundamentally transforming the threat’

Based on responses from more than 30,000 children across all regions, the report emphasises the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in “fundamentally transforming the threat” facing children online.

The rapid development and accessibility of generative AI are reshaping cyberbullying, making it faster, more targeted, harder to detect and capable of spreading across multiple platforms on a massive scale.

In the current digital environment, AI-generated deepfake images and videos, along with manipulation through chatbots and other tools, are becoming increasingly common. Children often place too much trust in these technologies and may struggle to distinguish them from real human interaction.

AI-generated deepfakes “are increasingly used to humiliate, threaten and exploit children online,” warned a statement released by Dr. M’jid’s office on Tuesday.

Fears over stigma

The report also found that many children hesitate to report cyberbullying because of stigma and fear of being rejected by their peers or judged by adults.

Failing to report such incidents can have immediate and devastating consequences, including psychological distress and long-lasting reputational damage that can occur within seconds.

‘Design the digital world with us’

Dr. M’jid stressed the importance of involving all stakeholders in online child protection, including governments, technology companies, educators, families, children and young people. She said collective action is essential to protect children from digital harm while allowing them to participate safely in online spaces.

One child consulted during the report’s preparation said digital platforms should not become places where harm is reported but never resolved.

“Digital spaces must not become places where harm is reported but never resolved. They must be places where help comes quickly, safely and humanely. Do not design the digital future for children. Design it with us.”