If you imagine a child losing faith in life out of desperation due to bullying from classmates, it quickly becomes clear how important decisive action is. France has reacted and is now showing that bullying must not have a chance in the digital age.
Tough crackdown on bullying for platforms and perpetrators
After shocking suicides by young people, the French government has decided to take a clear stance against bullying. Anyone caught bullying can expect to have their smartphone confiscated and be temporarily banned from platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne left no doubt about her determination: “We are waging a relentless fight against bullying.”
But not only the perpetrators should be held accountable. Online platforms are obliged to block accounts of bullies. Failure to do so could result in penalties of up to 75,000 euros. Some questions remain unanswered - for example, how to prevent perpetrators from simply opening new accounts?
Education is key: empathy courses and education
In addition to sanctions, Education Minister Gabriel Attal is focusing on education. Starting next year, so-called empathy courses based on the Danish model will be introduced in schools. Here, children and young people should not only be informed about bullying, but also made aware of it. But that's not all: Parents and teachers should also be more informed about the risks and consequences.
Attal plans to reverse current practice. Instead of forcing the victims to change schools, the perpetrators should take this step in the future. He is supported in this by Borne, who emphasizes that the public prosecutor's office should be contacted if there is any evidence of bullying.
A personal struggle for France's first lady
The tragedy of 15-year-old Nicolas, who took his own life after persistent bullying, has shocked the nation. His case has drawn attention to the problem and even mobilized French President Emmanuel Macron. He made the topic a top priority for the new school year. Even more remarkable is the commitment of his wife Brigitte, who has long been committed to combating psychological violence in schools.
Conclusion
France's decisive action against bullying sets a new standard for protecting young people from psychological violence in the digital age. By combining punitive measures with education, the country is demonstrating that it needs both short- and long-term solutions to combat this serious problem. Only in this way can we hope that future generations can grow up in a safer, more understanding world.
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Source:
sudouest.fr
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