Survey shows extent of cyberbullying among primary pupils

The survey also found that 22 per cent of pupils in this age group did not know how to protect themselves against cyberbullying and 18 per cent said they had been cyberbullied in their home.

Christopher Cloke, chair of the ABA, which is based at the National Children’s Bureau, says that this is the first confirmation that cyberbullying is widespread among pupils of primary school age.

He said: "Nationally we know that around 22 per cent of secondary school pupils have suffered cyberbullying, but until now we did not know younger age groups were also seriously affected."

He added that it was important that parents are aware of the dangers of cyberbullying, even among younger children. 

Of the 10- and 11-year-olds surveyed, just under two-thirds believed that parents and carers would know how to deal with the bullies.

However, a further survey by ABA of parents of eight- to 14-year-olds found that around half had not spoken to their child about cyberbullying.

Around a quarter of parents of children aged 10 or younger said they allowed them to use the computer at home unsupervised. One in four parents of children in this age group allowed them to have their own mobile phone.

Cloke added: "Parents and schools need to be aware that cyberbullying is affecting younger age groups as more children get mobile phones and have computer access."

Advice to children to combat cyberbullying includes never giving out personal details such as a mobile phone number online, keeping evidence of cyberbullying so that the bullies can be traced and to use "report abuse" or "block sender" functions on social networking websites.

The survey of Year 6 pupils has been released to promote the ABA’s Anti-Bullying Week 2009 (November 16-20), which this year focuses on cyberbullying.