Name: _________________________________________
Date: _________________
Year Group: _________
📊 Key Facts
- An estimated 5 million young people in the UK experience cyberbullying each year
- Inquest identified cyberbullying as a contributing factor in over 40 young people's deaths since 2010
- Instagram's own internal research (leaked 2021) found the platform was harmful to the mental health of teenage girls in 32% of cases
- The Online Safety Act 2023 introduces fines of up to £18m or 10% of global turnover for non-compliance
- Hate crime reported online increased 105% between 2019 and 2024
⚖️ The Law
- Online Safety Act 2023 — platform duties, Ofcom enforcement, illegal content, children's safety codes
- Communications Offences Act 2023 — false communication, threatening, harmful communications
- Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 / proposed England and Wales reforms
- Human Rights Act 1998 — Article 10 (freedom of expression) vs Article 8 (privacy and wellbeing)
- Equality Act 2010 — institutional responsibilities for protected characteristic harassment
- KCSIE 2024 — professional safeguarding guidance including online harm
✏️ Think About It: Scenarios
Scenario 1: A friend tells you something worrying about cyberbullying. What do you do?
Scenario 2: You see something related to cyberbullying that concerns you. What are your options?
Scenario 3: Someone you know seems to be in a situation involving cyberbullying. How do you respond?
💡 Key Messages
- Platform design decisions cause real, documented harm to young people — this is no longer contested
- The Online Safety Act 2023 is the most significant platform regulation in UK history — but enforcement is the test
- Mental health professionals, educators, and safeguarding staff need digital literacy to work effectively with young people
- The free speech vs safety debate has real consequences — professionals need to understand both sides
- Institutional safeguarding responsibilities around online harm are codified in KCSIE 2024
🆘 Need Help?
Childline: 0800 1111 (free, 24/7, confidential)
Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 (100% anonymous)
CEOP: ceop.police.uk (online exploitation)
Emergency: 999