Combating cyberbullying as ensuring the child right to safety

Abstract

The modern digital world opens up many opportunities for communication, learning, and entertainment. However, along with these opportunities, the number of threats is also increasing. The development of information technologies is accompanied by a rapid spread of offenses in this area. Cyberbullying, as a form of digital violence, has become a serious threat to children in the virtual space. It is a dynamic phenomenon, because it is becoming more dangerous every year, and the number of people affected by it is increasing. Cyberbullying violates not only emotional and social well-being but also security, which is one of the fundamental human rights. Given the increasing digitization of society and the increase in the number of online interactions, understanding and effectively combating cyberbullying is becoming an extremely important component of creating a safe and healthy environment for children’s development. The scientific research is devoted to the investigation of the problem of cyberbullying how to ensure a child right to safety in the online environment. The article analyzes various aspects of cyberbullying, including approaches to defining the concept by foreign and Ukrainian scientists, its types, and consequences for children’s development. An analysis of the legislation was carried out, and the effectiveness of the measures provided by it to prevent and counteract the above-mentioned phenomenon was analyzed. The role of educational institutions and their effectiveness in combating cyberbullying has been studied. It was concluded that there is no single approach to defining the concept of cyberbullying and its types. It was said that the negative impact can have various manifestations and can be both psychological and physical. It was also concluded that there are problems in the effectiveness of measures aimed at combating cyberbullying. The conclusions of the article indicate the importance of a comprehensive approach to the problem of cyberbullying and the need for joint efforts of all interested parties to create a safe online environment for children, forming a model of responsible behavior in cyberspace. The need to develop and implement effective strategies against cyberbullying aimed at ensuring and protecting the child right to safety is emphasized.