Two-thirds of children worldwide report rise in cyberbullying—UN survey
A majority of children worldwide said that cyberbullying has worsened in recent years.
Results of a global poll by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children showed that two-thirds (66%) of children reported an increase in cyberbullying and said they don't know how to get proper support.
The findings were cited by Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, United Nations Special Representative on Violence Against Children, in a report at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, March 10.
According to the survey, the growing influence of artificial intelligence is “fundamentally transforming” online threats faced by children. It stated that the rapid advancement and accessibility of generative AI have reshaped cyberbullying, allowing it to spread faster, reach wider audiences, and target victims more precisely while remaining difficult to detect across multiple platforms.
M’jid warned that AI-generated deepfakes are increasingly being used to humiliate, threaten, and exploit children online. She noted that photos and videos of children are being manipulated through chatbots and other digital tools, particularly affecting young users who may struggle to distinguish between real and fake interactions online.
The poll also found that many children find it difficult to report cyberbullying due to stigma and fear, including concerns about peer rejection or judgment from adults.
Such experiences, it noted, can lead to psychological distress, lasting reputational harm, and in severe cases, push some children toward self-harm or even suicide.
M’jid emphasized that protecting children online requires a collective effort involving governments, technology companies, educators, families, and young people themselves.
“We meet today once again in a challenging world, where children are paying the highest price,” M’jid said. “Digital spaces must not become places where harm is reported but never resolved. They must be places where help comes quickly, safely, humanly.”
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the report highlights “alarming trends” and underscores the urgent need for the entire online ecosystem to act swiftly and collectively for the protection of children.
The poll gathered responses from around 30,000 children in different parts of the world.
