One in five kids hit by 'digital bullying'

One in five youngsters has suffered from 'digital bullying' either by text messages, email or in internet chatrooms.

According to a survey by children's charity NCH, text bullying was the most regular form of abuse with 14 per cent of kids interviewed experiencing it.

And one in 10 youngsters said that someone had used a mobile phone camera to take their picture in a way that made them feel uncomfortable or threatened.

Other forms of digital bullying experienced included abuse in internet chatrooms (five per cent) and via email (four per cent).

NCH said that in the past most bullying took place at school, or between home and the school gates, so when kids got home they could shut the door and find sanctuary.

But mobile bullying has changed that. Mobiles are among children's most treasured possessions and they tend to keep them switched on all the time.

So if the mobile starts being used to harass a child it can seem as if there is no escape.

Kids can also worry that if they tell their parents their mobile phone will be taken away from them.

Three-quarters of young people who had been bullied said they knew who was doing it, while a quarter said it was a stranger.

For children in education, half of the threats or bullying occured at school or college, while 21 per cent took place after school or college, 17 per cent at the weekend and six per cent in the holidays.

For youngsters not at school or college there is evidence of a pattern of late night bullying: 42 per cent of those bullied said it happened after 21:00; 41 per cent between 09:00 and 18:00; and 18 per cent between 18:00 and 21:00.

Only one in 10 youngsters admitted to actually sending bullying messages.

NCH and Tesco Mobile have launched a website - www.stoptextbully.com - to give young people information and advice on how to tackle mobile bullying. Kids can also text the word 'bully' to 60000 to receive more advice and support.

The survey interviewed 770 youngsters aged 11 to 19.