Cyberbullying and Prevention

Abstract

Introduction: Internet addiction increased unnaturally after the Covid-19 pandemic due to the development of the global situation where online teaching became the preference. This was not only true in Slovakia, but around the world. Bullying happens in every school, and it goes hand in hand with cyberbullying. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate them with prevention. Research aim and objectives: In our research, we approached 158 second grade pupils from two primary schools. The aim of the research was to identify whether girls or boys spend more time on the Internet, how often they are online, whether they have encountered cyberbullying, and what kind of cyberbullying prevention has been implemented in elementary schools. Methods: In our research, we gathered information in the form of a self-constructed questionnaire. Results: Through our analysis we came to the conclusion that girls spend more time in the online space (53.16%) compared to boys. The occurrence of cyberbullying has increased in the recent period, which was also confirmed by 56.96% of respondents. The specific situations that we had the opportunity to encounter were solved by the primary school itself with the help of experts. Cyberbullying prevention alone is insufficient in primary schools, but it would be advisable to repeat it more often in order to eliminate bullying. Conclusion: Cyberbullying in primary schools is increasing with the development of information and communication technology. It is advisable to begin addressing the issue of the increased occurrence of cyberbullying at an earlier age and increase prevention. It is also advisable to increase media literacy in Slovakia.