Colman Noctor: Helping young people deal with online issues like bullying

We must provide the necessary support for young people to navigate the digital world

Multiple factors make the online world a breeding ground for abhorrent behaviour

Body shaming, bullying, and racism are the most common forms of harm witnessed online, according to a new Spunout survey of young people in Ireland. Other harmful online exchanges included misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, fatphobia, and xenophobia.

While these findings are concerning, they are not surprising as people say things online that they would never say face-to-face. This is partly due to a process known as ‘online disinhibition’, described by US psychologist John Suler and other behavioural experts investigating online harassment behaviours such as trolling and cyberbullying.