Is it because we don’t talk about it anymore? Or because the phenomenon is expanding? In any case, cyber bullying seems to be spreading.
In France in 2020, 119 incidents of harassment, threats and cyber harassment targeting minors were recorded in France, an increase of 30% compared to 2019. With a very recent drama: the death of Alisha in Argenteuil, thrown into the Seine by classmates after being harassed on Snapchat.
Same trend in the Strasbourg academy: 22 cases of cyber harassment in Alsace recorded in 2016-2017, 100 over the 2019-2020 school year! So in some establishments, the students themselves embark on prevention projects.
This is the case at the Lycée Jean Rostand in Strasbourg where students participate in the competition “No to harassment“(in competition with 50 other projects) from the Ministry of National Education via a clip they made.
A clip that features a young girl harassed in high school and on social networks through the dissemination of intimate images. About twenty students from Jean Rostand high school took part in this cyber harassment awareness project, wrote the screenplay, filmed the scenes, all in their free time. Almost 50 hours of work, assembly included.
But it was essential to free the words of the victims, says Louise, a first year student and actress in the clip: “personally I have no problems with social networks. I use them moderately. The second problem is that not many people talk about cyber harassment, because they are afraid. If we send “nudes” for example, someone can publish them because we have denounced a harassment, suddenly we are afraid to speak, it’s difficult” she says.
Solutions to help victims
Here at the Lycée Jean Rostand the climate seems serene. But who knows what’s really going on behind the screens on TikTok, Snapshat or even Twitter? In any case, cyber harassment begins long before, testifies Myriam Abdeddine, a student in Terminale. Even from primary school (50% of school bullying cases according to the statistics) : “it is a real discrimination present since our childhood. Everywhere, in the primary school playground, in middle school. I have memories of my primary, where there were people called “lost”, you shouldn’t play with them, talk to them “ said the young high school student.
“And then in college, I have a friend who sent a ‘nude’, it made her a reputation, she found herself alone without a friend. The victims do not speak. So the witnesses must have the greatest role. and talk“continues the young girl.
Noushine Geiger, Senior Education Advisor, however, adds that adults referents, trained, exist in each establishment. “Che phenomenon is more visible in colleges. But in each establishment, there are trained people, CPEs, teachers, social workers. This staff is able to deal with this situation. We have to talk about it, no matter what. Its not always easy. Sometimes we hear dramatic situations in the media, and we hear that the young person has not said anything. However, there are witnesses, on social networks or in establishments, so the interest is to show witnesses that they can act by simply talking about it.“.
The clip of Strasbourg high school students from Jean Rostand high school is therefore in competition for the competition “No to harassment“whose Alsatian jury will meet in the coming days. It could then be distributed in prevention in colleges. Because there is an emergency … 13% of teens say they have already been bullied, a figure undoubtedly far below the reality
If you are the victim of harassment: you can talk to your childcare center, for example, or call the help desk by telephone on 3020.
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