As part of the “WAKE UP!” initiative, the Cybermobbing-Hilfe (eV) association, together with its cooperation partner O2 Telefónica and the Voluntary Self-Control Multimedia Service Provider eV (FSM), launched an online counseling platform for children and young people a year ago. On the occasion of the platform's one-year anniversary, an employee of the TU Berlin carried out an evaluation together with the cooperation partners. Key findings: Girls seek help more often than boys when it comes to cyberbullying; The approach of offering advice from peers (peer to peer) is a complete success.

Cyberbullying help sought more often: girls affected differently and more intensely than boys

Female adolescents contact the platform more often due to acute cyberbullying and for general advice than male victims. This is the result of an evaluation of the platform that was carried out on the occasion of its first anniversary. This corresponds to current study results such as those of the “Alliance against Cybermobbing eV” (2020). The data collection makes it clear that girls primarily fall victim to cyberbullying via YouTube (69%). In addition, the data underscores that unwanted sharing of images can lead to feelings of shame and inferiority in girls, as well as having long-term negative effects on self-concept. According to study results, anorexia is the second most common form of self-harm in cyberbullying.

Details about the evaluation

The evaluation was carried out in collaboration between O2 Telefónica, the Voluntary Self-Control Multimedia Service Provider eV (FSM) and the TU Berlin. It shows that the advice offered is well received and reveals that the need for assistance continues to increase. Almost 600 children and young people registered on the platform in the first seven months. Almost all registrations also led directly to an inquiry.

The free offer is as simple as it is effective: with a click of the mouse, those seeking help are directed to the offer from the company's own website at www.cybermobbing-hilfe.de . There you can register your concerns and exchange ideas with the experts. A personal contact will respond to you via the platform within a maximum of 24 hours. If desired, those affected will receive an email notification that their response has been received.

The evaluation was presented as part of the anniversary event in Düsseldorf. It is intended to help take stock and further develop the platform. The event, moderated by Mirko Drotschmann (MrWissen2Go), served to give the commitment against cyberbullying the largest possible stage on site. In addition to the presentation of the evaluation, the program included anti-cyberbullying workshops for students. Drotschmann received prominent support from actor Patrick Mölleken (including Alarm für Cobra 11, Tatort), who is also actively involved in combating online hate as part of the EU initiative klicksafe.

Peer to peer approach is a complete success

“We started a year ago with the aim of offering as many affected children and young people as possible a professional contact point that they could turn to in a trustworthy and uncomplicated manner. Our approach to breaking down inhibitions by using people of the same age with appropriate training has really proven its worth,” says Lukas Pohland, first chairman of Cybermobbing-Hilfe (eV) and initiator of the online advice platform. The average age of those affected and counselors is 16 years. The evaluation by the TU Berlin confirms that the chosen approach is correct. The data collection encourages everyone involved to remain tireless in their efforts to help victims of cyberbullying. Thanks to the evaluation, important conclusions can be drawn for future consulting services. Every case is different but equally important.

“The great demand on the online advice platform against cyberbullying shows how important it is to have easily accessible advice centers that young people can trust. We are pleased that we were able to provide Lukas Pohland with significant support in the development of the online platform last year. We also feel encouraged to continue our commitment against cyberbullying with WAKE UP! “Gender-specific workshops are planned,” says Claudia von Bothmer, Director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at O2 Telefónica.

The needs and problems are real

The high number of inquiries makes it clear that there is a need for advice and that advice platforms are confronted with problems on many levels. “The evaluation highlighted many important aspects of the social problem of cyberbullying. It is therefore extremely important to understand that children and young people not only need professional help, but that counseling services are tailored as individually as possible. This can be made possible through further accompanying evaluations and an appropriately adapted training program for the consultants,” says Katrin Lietz, research assistant at the Technical University of Berlin, who carried out the evaluation.

O2 takes a stand against cyberbullying and digital violence

With the “WAKE UP!” initiative, O2 is setting an example against cyberbullying and digital violence with the expert advice of the Voluntary Self-Control Multimedia Service Provider eV (FSM) and together with Cybermobbing-Hilfe (eV), YAEZ and other partners. It supports school classes in working on the topic of cyberbullying and thus contributes to a bullying-free, digital school environment and strengthens young people's media skills.

About Lukas Pohland and Cyberbullying Help (eV)

The non-profit association Cybermobbing-Hilfe (eV), with Lukas Pohland as chairman, actively carries out prevention work against cyberbullying and offers individual online advice to young people affected by cyberbullying. Through the website www.cybermobbing-hilfe.de , children and young people seeking help are directed to a free advice platform that specializes in cyberbullying. There you can register your concerns and exchange ideas with experts. Those affected receive concrete advice, information and further addresses from the association. The cooperation partners of Cybermobbing-Hilfe eV are the telecommunications provider O2 Telefónica and the Voluntary Self-Control Multimedia Service Provider (FSM eV).

The Voluntary Self-Regulation Multimedia Service Provider eV (FSM) is a recognized self-regulation institution for the telemedia sector. The association is significantly committed to youth media protection - in particular the fight against illegal, youth-endangering and development-impairing content in online media. To this end, the FSM operates a complaints office that anyone can contact to report online content that is harmful to minors. The FSM's other tasks include extensive educational work and the promotion of media literacy among children, young people and adults.

Source: Cybermobbing-Hilfe eV

Also read:


If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:

📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.

Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!

* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!


Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )