Researchers in Ireland have detected a change in technology-led bullying in recent years. Whereas mobile phone texts and calls were once the main method, social networking websites are now the main source of bullying, with Instant messaging a key method and mobile phone bullying descending to third place. Researchers attribute this change to improved internet access in Ireland.

Between 6.3 per cent and 11 per cent of Irish children claimed to have been cyber-bullied once or twice in the previous three months. These figures are still relatively low in comparison to Britain (22 per cent) and Canada (55 per cent).
Almost half (48.9 per cent) of children who have been victims of cyber bullying did not tell adults about it because they felt that adults were not able to help.

The findings were presented at the Psychological Society of Ireland’s annual conference.

Sources: Bullying shifts from texts to websites, The Irish Times, November 6, 2009

Tags: Ireland, cyber bullying, social networking sites, instant messaging