The role of the civil sector in the prevention and management of cyberbullying

Abstract

The digital revolution has changed our everyday lives and the dynamics of relationships. A new space has appeared—cyberspace—which is not only a communication platform but has also become a fundamental place for social interaction. Besides its positive aspects, it also contains dangers; one of the most serious problems is cyberbullying, to which neither the public education nor other state actors engaged in intervention are able to respond adequately. The administrative overload and methodological shortcomings in formal education often set back effective intervention. Those who are affected do not trust in state institutions and mostly fear asking for help from professionals, which creates another problem to solve. In this social environment, the role of the civil sphere becomes crucial. The study aims to introduce how the civil sphere can respond to these challenges and cooperate with the institutions. Furthermore, another important question is how they describe the obstacles they face. Using semi-structured interviews with civil society actors explores the significance, good practices, and challenges of the civil sphere. The analysis highlights that civil society actors play a significant role in both prevention and intervention. Interviews with affected users also highlighted that they do not trust state institutions. For this reason, they would turn to civil society for help. Their methodological freedom, knowledge, and network enable them to establish and maintain partnerships with actors in formal institutions. Nevertheless, the results show that they face a lack of financial and human resources, as well as political restrictions, which threaten their operation and long-term presence in schools and communities. The persistent and active presence of civil society actors is crucial, as they often compensate for the shortcomings of the formal system and, in many cases, serve as the only credible source of help.