©Jerry Zhang via Unsplash
There is a form of violence that often leaves no visible bruises, but does leave deep and lasting wounds. It's a kind of violence that's expressed in jokes, bullying, ostracism and presented as a game. It's precisely this gray area we call bullying, and among young people, it's difficult to recognize. And therefore also difficult to stop.
On the occasion of the National Day against Bullying and Cyberbullying on February 7, figures, testimonies and awareness campaigns paint a clear picture: the phenomenon is widespread, on the rise and still far too invisible.
A real problem that many don't call bullying
One simple question - "What is bullying to you?" - was enough to expose an uncomfortable truth. Many behaviors that cause distress are not immediately perceived as violence, either by those who undergo them or those who pose them.
According to an online survey by the community of ScuolaZoo, conducted among more than 6,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 in Italy, 92% felt uncomfortable by actions called "just a joke" at least once in their life, while nearly 7 in 10 think that those who bully are not fully aware of the harm done.
It's precisely this unawareness that makes the phenomenon dangerous: when violence becomes normalized, it becomes invisible.
Increase in cyberbullying
In addition to young people's perceptions, numbers confirm the seriousness of the situation.
According to data from Telefono Azzurro, by 2024 more than one million students aged 15 to 19 in Italy have experienced cyberbullying, while 32% admit to having behaved as a cyber bully at least once. In other European countries, the statistics may be similar.
In Italy, 68.5% of young people aged 11 to 19 said they have experienced offensive or aggressive incidents in the past year, and about a third report online bullying.
This is a phenomenon that obviously does not only affect Italy: at the international level, the World Health Organization's Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, conducted in 44 countries and regions, shows that about 11% of adolescents are bullied at school, with no significant differences between boys and girls.
As for cyberbullying, 12% of adolescents (1 in 8) say they have participated in it, with a higher incidence among boys (14%) than girls (9%). Of particular concern is the increase from 2018: from 11% to 14% among boys and from 7% to 9% among girls. Even more significant is the figure on victims: 15% of adolescents, about 1 in 6, have experienced cyberbullying, with similar rates among boys (15%) and girls (16%), up from 2018.
Behind the numbers, however, there's still a large hidden aspect. Adults' fear, shame and distrust keep many young people from seeking help, keeping their suffering invisible.
The first step: recognizing what hurts
The awareness initiatives launched on this day share a common message: combating bullying and cyberbullying means first and foremost learning to recognize it.
Because violence is no less serious when it happens through a screen, nor when it's called a 'joke'. The effects on young people's mental health are real and can last a long time.
What's needed? Without a doubt, a shared responsibility of families, schools, institutions and the digital sector, who together know how to create a safety net around children and young people. Only then can silence turn into awareness, and awareness into change.
(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing Editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture: ©Nick Karvounis via Unsplash)