ONLINE BULLY? NEVER HEARD OF THEM, NOW GIVE ME YOUR VIRTUAL DINNER MONEY YOU COW.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sarah Davidson
Date: 2008/7/1
Subject: NEWS FOR THURSDAY - A million online bullies run rampant in cyberspace
To:
EMBARGOED NOT FOR PRINT OR BROADCAST UNTIL 00.01 3RD JULY 2008

A million* online bullies run rampant in cyberspace

Britain's playground bullies are increasingly moving online to harass and abuse their victims.

A new study published today by online identity experts Garlik charts the number of young net bullies in the UK. One in five 8-15 years olds (18 per cent) freely admit to being online bullies and posting deliberately offensive comments about others and in extreme cases 'stealing' their identities.

The motivation for this bad behaviour varies with the majority of culprits (30 per cent) admitting they do it because it's fun, one in seven (13 per cent) say it's the only place they can act like this without getting into trouble and one in twenty because it makes them feel powerful. In addition, one in twelve (8 per cent) are pressured into this online misdemeanour by their friends.

And whilst the majority of parents (61 per cent*) are in the dark about their offspring's bad behaviour, a quarter of the young online bullies state their parents know about their actions and think it's harmless fun.

The Garlik research, which questioned 1000 8-15 year olds and parents across the UK, also reveals the impact of this cyber misconduct. At least 2.3 million* online incidents have taken place, affecting four in ten (43 per cent) young people in the UK.

One in six (15 per cent) have been cyber-bullied – a 4 per cent increase on last year *- close to one in ten (9 per cent) has been ridiculed on their social networking site and a similar number (8 per cent) has had their identity 'stolen' for malicious use or intent.

The online identity experts warn that cyber misconduct is vastly underestimated as the majority of incidents go unreported - 60 per cent of victims fail to tell their parents.

Tom Ilube, CEO of Garlik said: "Our research demonstrates cyber misconduct is real and growing, with bullies using the web as an additional weapon in their armoury. What does it say about the way our society is changing that such a high number of young people use the internet's veil of anonymity to bully and abuse their peers?

Ilube continues: "Bullying is a frequent occurrence in the playground, but now as bullies move online there is increasingly no escape. Parents need to closely track their children's online activities to ensure they are acting responsibly online."

John Carr, an expert on child safety on the internet said: "New technologies always seem to bring with them a series of unintended and unforeseen consequences. In the case of the internet and mobile phones bullying is definitely one of them. Bullying can ruin children's lives. As the long school holidays approach, this research is a timely reminder of the importance of parents and teachers engaging with children, to remind them of how serious the consequences of bullying can be, both for the victim and the perpetrator, but also to encourage them to speak out if it happens to them or any of their friends."

-ENDS-

For further information please contact
Sarah Davidson/Marsha D'Angelo
Band and Brown Communications
+44 (0)20 7419 7000
sarah.davidson@bbpr.com or marsha@bbpr.com