Cyberbullying rampant among students

More than half of Hong Kong's secondary school students have engaged in online bullying behavior, according to a latest survey by Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service.

The poll took in more than 700 secondary students in January to understand the roles that students took in cyberbullying and its impact on teens.

About one-fifth of the respondents claimed to have been bullied online, leading to anger and anxiety. Forty percent of the victims even had suicidal thoughts.

Around 30 percent admitted to cyberbullying others by sharing private message screenshots on social media.

While half of the victims sought help from friends, only 28 percent found it effective. Most respondents said seeking help from teachers, schools, or relatives would be more helpful.

One social worker, Tsui Hiu-laam, said the impact of cyberbullying is powerful as anonymous attacks are common and difficult to address on the internet. As seeking help from friends may not be as effective as expected, Tsui added that victims are left with no recourse but to put up with it.

A16-year-old, Apple, said she had "thought of seeking help, but I did not know any social workers and I was afraid friends would leave me after looking at the comments on the internet," she said.

The service called on parents, teachers and social workers to provide emotional support and intervene as an "effective third party" to stop these bullying behaviors.

The survey also revealed a lack of awareness about cyberbullying, with only half recognizing certain actions as cyberbullying.

Officer-in-charge Yip Man-lung said around 40 percent of the victims did not seek help for fear the problem would worsen or that others would not believe them.

"Schools should hold talks and activities to help students identify online bullying, support victims, and understand its severity and solutions," he said.

The poll identified 14 acts that around half of the respondents agreed constituted acts of cyberbullying, reflecting a lack of awareness, overlooking the consequences and the harm inherent in them