Survey: teens often excluded online, fear speaking out about bullying

A quarter of young people are excluded online at least once a month, according to Helpwanted, a helpline for online transgressive behavior, based on a survey of 10- to 20-year-olds. The exclusion takes place mainly in group chats.

More than half of young people experience being excluded at some point, and for a quarter, this happens on a monthly basis. Such exclusion can lead to psychological effects such as insomnia and social isolation. Young people who are left out report feeling sad (42 percent), angry (35 percent), lonely (30 percent), and regularly depressed or down (25 percent).

“It is alarming that young people feel so lonely after being excluded online. Yet only a small percentage actually seek help. It is essential that we give young people the courage to break through group behavior and to speak out as quickly as possible when they think something isn’t okay. The message is clear: stick up for each other. Also, when it’s online,” said Rivka van Otten of Helpwanted.

According to nearly 70 percent of young people, teachers are unaware of how often online exclusion occurs, and 68 percent want schools to do more to address it. A total of 1,014 young people took part in the survey, which was carried out by Motivaction.

Last year, the Kindertelefoon spoke an average of 19 times per day with 13- to 18-year-olds about bullying, including online bullying, the organization reported on Friday. This also includes young people who witness it happening to, for example, a friend.

Research by the Kindertelefoon confirms that young people who witness bullying want to intervene but are often afraid of negative consequences for themselves, the organization said.

According to director Roline de Wilde, it takes courage and social skills to speak up. “That is why we call on caregivers and education professionals to acknowledge this discomfort and talk with young people about what they need.”