One in five boy undergoes bullying acts regularly, almost one in three has been insulted or excluded at least once during the year. This is revealed by the latest investigation conducted by Istat on offensive, aggressive and violent behavior among Italian teenagersa dossier that offers an alarming photograph of the relationship between 11 and 19 years of age, between “traditional” bullying and its most insidious version: cyberbullying.
Bullying today: frequency and shapes
In 2023, 68.5% of children between 11 and 19 years of age said they had been the victim of at least an offensive behaviornot respectful or violent, both online and offline, in the previous twelve months. But it is the data on the continuity of these episodes that arouse greater concern: 21% of teenagers have undergone bullying in a systematic way, several times a month; 8% even several times a week.
The classic elements of vulnerability are confirmed: the youngest are the most exposed. The 11-13-year-old band records the highest usual bullying rate (23.7%) compared to 14-19 year old boys (19.8%). The males are slightly more affected than females (21.5% against 20.5%).
North more exposed, less affected noon
Geography also matters. The boys who live in the North suffer multiple episodes of bullying compared to the peers of the South. In particular, in North-East 22.1%of young people were the usual victim of bullying, in the north-west 21.6%, while in the South the share drops to 20%. The phenomenon manifests itself more frequently in the most urbanized and digitized areas, where the opportunities for contact – and clash – between equal they multiply.
Offenses and insults for males, exclusion for females
Bullying takes on different shades. The most frequent acts are the offenses and direct insults, which affect over 55% of the boys at least once a year. The threats and physical aggressions concern 11%, defamation (gossip and slander) almost one in four, while 43% experienced exclusion from the group.
Gender differences are evident: The males suffer more often offenses and physical aggressions (16% against 12.3% of females), while girls are more vulnerable to social exclusion (12.2% against 8.5% of boys). Among the very young 11-13 years, offenses and insults reach 58%, while among 14-19 year olds prevail the episodes of exclusion (43.4%) and the physical threats (11.2%).
Cyberbullying: the invisible threat
The virtual world amplifies the phenomenon. 34% of Italian teenagers said they had undergone harassing behaviors online at least once in the year, 7.8% several times a month. Here too the gender gap makes itself felt: it is above all males who denounce repeated episodes of cyberbullying (8.9% against 6.6% of girls).
The most popular online insults are offenses, defamation and exclusion from virtual groups. Overall, 30.1% of the boys were the victim of both online bullying and offline, 3.8% exclusively online. Among the boys who declare that they spend at least two hours a day on the internet-over 90% of 11-19nni-the chances of being affected by episodes of cyberbullying increase significantly.
More vulnerable foreigners, record between Romanians and Ukrainians
Istat data also highlight a discriminatory component in the phenomenon. Foreign teenagers residing in Italy are more exposed to bullying compared to Italian peers: 26.8% of foreigners have undergone harassing acts several times a month, against 20.4% of Italians. The boys of Romanian origin (29.2%) and Ukraine (27.8%), followed by Chinese (25%), Albanians and Moroccan (over 22%) suffer.
In detail, foreigners suffer more frequently offenses and insults (18% against 13.8% of Italians) and are more exposed to exclusion and marginalization (14.1% against 10.3%). Also in cyberbullying the vulnerability of foreigners is greater: 39.8% have undergone at least one vexatious online act, against 33.3% of Italian peers.
The gap expands between the different community
Among foreigners, particularly critical situations emerge. Ukrainian teenagers are the most affected online (44.5%), followed by Chinese and Romanians (42.8%). The Albanians and Moroccans attest to lower percentages, while remaining above the Italian average. Foreign males are more affected than females in all community, With a particularly marked gap among the Albanians (39.5% of boys against 30.2% of girls).
A phenomenon that evolves with age
Istat survey shows how bullying changes with growth. In the very young 11-13nni, verbal offenses and defamation prevail (28% of the younger males were victims), while among the largest, physical threats, social exclusion and cyberbullying increase, in particular linked to the use of social networks.
Prevention and awareness: the educational challenge
The data outline a widespread phenomenon, which requires concrete interventions at school, familiar and social level. Prevention passes from digital education and the strengthening of children’s relational skills. It is also necessary to particular attention to the most vulnerable groups, such as the very young, girls and foreign teenagers, often target of exclusion, discrimination and violence.
A company more attentive to relationships
Bullying, Istat concludes, remains an indicator of the social climate among the new generations. A phenomenon that, if neglected, feeds suffering, isolation and insecurity, but which can be stemmed through an educational, cultural and social investment capable of reconstructing a fabric of healthy, respectful and inclusive relationships, both in the real and digital world.
Photo © ANSA
