Cyberbullying in Europe 2025: What data and experts reveal

TikTok and the new faces of online harm

When classrooms closed and playgrounds went quiet, TikTok became the centre of youth culture. What began as a creative outlet for dance and humour turned into the default social hub for millions of young people across Europe, a place where identity, belonging, and validation now unfold in real time.

“Young people are now on TikTok much earlier than before,” comments Marion La Main Tendue’s Nora Fraisse. “It’s become part of their routine. They are no longer creators, like they used to be on YouTube; they are consumers of content, and that content can be extremely violent.”

She warns that much of what circulates on TikTok “is produced by adults for adults, but is consumed mainly by children,” making vigilance and media education essential.

In the UK, 58% of young people aged 16–24 report experiencing online abuse, and 87% say social media negatively impacts their mental health, according to Cybersmile’s latest Digital Wellbeing Report.

“Platforms that emphasise visual content and peer validation, such as Instagram and TikTok, are particularly associated with body image issues and mental health challenges,” says The Cybersmile Foundation’s Freeman.

Across the continent, similar concerns echo, in Italy, Ivano Zoppi of Fondazione Carolina, notes: “TikTok, for the speed and virality of its content, worries us most, especially because harmful challenges and doxing are growing.”

Research supports their concerns. A 2023 systematic review of 20 studies on TikTok’s impact on adolescent mental health found that heavy TikTok use correlates with higher anxiety and depression symptoms among adolescents.

In the UK, Ofcom’s Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes report (2024) highlights that a quarter of UK children aged 5–7 owned a smartphone, and many others use social media despite age restrictions. The WHO also reports that problematic social-media use among European adolescents rose from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022, a jump linked to the post-pandemic surge in screen time.

For educators, this cultural shift poses daily challenges. “Teachers are unarmed,” Fraisse explains. “They have no idea what happens on these platforms. I tell them: open accounts, see what your students watch, understand their new language, you’ll also discover the dangerous challenges circulating online.”

TikTok itself has faced mounting scrutiny from regulators. The EU launched formal proceedings against TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA), over concerns including protection of minors, advertising transparency, data access, algorithmic risk.

The European Parliament has also called for child protection audits of social platforms’ design choices, a recognition of the concern that the issue lies less in single videos than in algorithms optimised for attention.

“Encouraging healthy online habits means promoting digital literacy and self-awareness, not fear or guilt. We need to empower young people with the tools to navigate these spaces safely,” comments The Cybersmile Foundation’s Scott Freeman.

Europe’s policy dilemma: how to react faster than the feed

Across Europe, governments are scrambling to keep pace with an issue that mutates faster than legislation. Every country now acknowledges that cyberbullying and online violence are public-health challenges, yet the responses remain patchy, fragmented, and too often reactive.

In recent years, France and Germany have introduced laws criminalising school and online bullying. Spain has expanded its Plan de Convivencia Escolar to include cyberbullying prevention, and Italy is preparing a national digital-literacy curriculum for primary schools starting in 2025.

But while these initiatives mark progress, experts agree that legislation alone won’t stop the harm. Ivano Zoppi cautions that policymakers often focus on punishment rather than prevention.

“We can’t legislate our way out of this problem. The challenge is cultural, not only legal. If we don’t change how children, parents, and schools live the digital world, the laws will always arrive too late,” he says.

For Nora Fraisse, the pattern is the same in France: “Each new tragedy brings a wave of emotion and a new law. But we must move from crisis management to continuous education. Prevention has to become part of daily life, not just a campaign once a year.”

And despite the introduction of robust anti-bullying protocols for Spanish schools, many still activate them only after the damage is done, comments the AEPAE’s Ana Mª Giménez Gualdo.

“The rules exist on paper, but intervention often comes too late. By the time teachers react, the victim has already been isolated, anxious, or even suicidal,” she says

Another key issue is the lack of European collaboration on addressing the problem, notes Freeman. He says the EU’s Digital Services Act is a step in the right direction in that it forces platforms to audit their algorithms and assess risks to minors, but warns that transparency reports are “only as useful as the actions that follow”.

“We still treat cyberbullying as a local or national problem, but the platforms are global. We need shared data, consistent victim support, and a unified message that crosses borders,” he says.

Parents and educators: teaching digital life with empathy, not fear

If there’s one thing all experts agree on, it’s that protecting children online starts long before a crisis, and rarely through restriction alone. The first real line of defence isn’t technology; it’s the human relationships surrounding the screen.

Across Europe, parents and educators are struggling to find the right balance between vigilance and trust. They want to guide, but not spy; to protect, but not isolate.

Anti-cyberbullying and cyberviolence experts agree. The issue must be navigated and resolved in partnership with children, not against them. Guidance must be relational, not repressive. Parents and educators can’t outsource their role to filters, apps, or laws; they must reclaim it through presence, empathy, and consistency.

“Families often swing between total prohibition and total permissiveness. We need a middle way: education for conscious use. That means adults entering the digital world with their children, not standing outside of it,” says Fondazione Carolina’s Ivano Zoppi.

Experts say parents and educators can no longer stand on the sidelines of digital culture, but join their children and students in the landscape where they are spending their time.

“Understanding what happens there is essential to understanding your students. Teachers should be digitally present, not to spy, but to connect,” comments the AEPAE’s Ana Mª Giménez Gualdo.

When influence becomes empathy: creators helping young people feel less alone

With research by the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre finding that 59% of secondary-school students compare themselves to influencers, it is crucial for influencers and content creators to join the fight against the harm of cyberbullying and cyberviolence.

“Online harm today is as much about pressure and comparison as it is about direct abuse,” comments Cybersmile’s Scott Freeman.

In that sense, influencers can play a critical role in bridging generations online, translating complex issues like cyberbullying, body image, or mental health into relatable language, and encouraging followers to seek help or speak up. By doing so, they become not just creators, but community builders in the digital space.

Beyond simply monitoring behaviour, today’s digital-safety landscape is recognising the influential role that social-media creators can play in shaping positive norms online.

Academic research from Tilburg University in the Netherlands demonstrates that campaigns which partner with creators and script authentic peer-led storylines resonate more effectively with children aged 10-18, helping them internalise anti-bullying messages in their everyday digital routines.

The Cybersmile Foundation’s campaign “Beyond Profiles” enlisted popular influencers to share personal stories of cyber-bullying and mental-health struggle, reaching over a million video views, and underscoring one key message: “behind every profile is a person with feelings”.

“Young people need digital mentors, not digital police. When adults show curiosity instead of fear, kids are far more likely to come forward when something goes wrong,” comments Scott Freeman.

Together, these efforts illustrate a useful shift: rather than viewing influencers as part of the cyber-bullying problem, they are being leveraged as trusted voices in the conversation, helping bridge the gap between official education frameworks and the lived online experience of younger users.

How parents and educators can accompany children online

On this UNESCO International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying, Europe faces a defining challenge: not simply to protect children from technology, but to prepare them for it.

1.  Explore together.

Create social-media accounts alongside children; ask them to show you the creators, trends and challenges they follow. Curiosity builds trust.

2. Talk early and often.
Don’t wait for problems to arise. Start conversations about online respect, digital empathy, and privacy before adolescence.

3. Model the behaviour you expect.
Children learn by imitation. Show what responsible posting, time limits, and emotional regulation look like.

4. Stay informed and visible.
Educators should keep up with the platforms and slang their students use. Being digitally literate helps identify risks before they escalate.

5. Replace punishment with dialogue.
If something goes wrong, focus on understanding and problem-solving rather than confiscation. Repairing trust is more powerful than fear.

On this UNESCO International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying, Europe faces a defining challenge: not simply to protect children from technology, but to prepare them for it.

Where to find help and information

If you or someone you know is experiencing online abuse or cyberbullying, support is available:

 France — 3018 (e-Enfance / Association Marion la Main Tendue)
National helpline for digital violence and cyberbullying, free and confidential, 7 days a week.
https://3018.fr

·   France — 116 006 (France Victimes)
General victim-support number, including bullying and online abuse.
https://www.france-victimes.fr

·   United Kingdom — Childline (0800 1111)
24/7 helpline for children and young people dealing with bullying, cyberbullying, and online harm.
https://www.childline.org.uk

·   Germany — Nummer gegen Kummer (116 111)
National child helpline providing counselling on bullying, cyberbullying, and family problems.
https://www.nummergegenkummer.de

·   Germany — Internet-Beschwerdestelle
Hotline for reporting illegal or harmful online content, including hate speech and harassment.
https://www.internet-beschwerdestelle.de

·   Spain — Fundación ANAR (900 202 010)
Free and confidential helpline for children and adolescents experiencing bullying or online abuse.
https://www.anar.org

·   Spain — INCIBE Cyber Helpline (017)
National cyber-security line offering assistance for online threats, identity theft, and cyberbullying.
https://www.incibe.es/linea-de-ayuda-en-ciberseguridad

·   Italy — Telefono Azzurro (1 96 96)
National child-protection helpline supporting victims of bullying, sexting, and cyberviolence.
https://www.azzurro.it

·   Netherlands — De Kindertelefoon (0800 0432)
Helpline for children and teens offering advice on bullying and online safety, available by phone and chat.
https://www.kindertelefoon.nl

·   Belgium — Child Focus / Stop Cyber Hate (116 000)
National helpline for missing and exploited children, including online grooming and bullying cases.
https://www.childfocus.be

·   Sweden — BRIS (020 50 50 50)
Children’s Rights in Society helpline providing counselling via phone, chat, or email on bullying and mental health.
https://www.bris.se

·   Denmark — BørneTelefonen (116 111)
Free and confidential helpline for children and teens on all issues including cyberbullying.
https://bornetelefonen.dk

·   Norway — Kors på Halsen (800 333 21)
Anonymous helpline for young people facing bullying, digital harassment, or loneliness.
https://www.korspahalsen.no

·   Finland — MLL Lasten ja Nuorten Puhelin (116 111)
The Mannerheim League’s national child helpline offering support for online risks and cyberbullying.
https://www.mll.fi