Opinion: One in four students in Tallinn is a victim of cyberbullying

An 8th-grade student from Tallinn French Lyceum, Paul Varblane, writes that cyberbullying is a serious problem affecting many young people. A web survey conducted among 7th-grade students as part of his creative project confirms troubling statistics.

Cyberbullying has become one of the biggest problems facing today's youth – and the numbers speak for themselves. Paul Varblane, an 8th-grade student at Tallinn French Lyceum, conducted a web survey among 7th-grade students as part of his creative project, and the results are alarming: one in four respondents has experienced cyberbullying.

The survey shows that the problem is far from marginal. A quarter of students means that in every classroom there are several children who have fallen victim to online harassment – whether through offensive messages, embarrassing material posted on social media, or deliberate exclusion in online spaces.

Varblane emphasises that statistics alone do not reflect the true extent of the problem – many victims are too afraid to tell their parents, teachers, or friends about what happened. Shame and fear of blame keep children silent, which in turn means that the real number of victims is likely even higher than surveys indicate.

Cyberbullying differs from traditional bullying in that it does not end with the school day – a smartphone brings the bully into a child's bedroom, on holiday, and into every corner of their life. Therefore, its psychological impact is often deeper and longer-lasting. Experts recommend that schools and parents engage more actively with the issue and create safe ways for children to seek help.