Worldwide Director of Bullying Without Borders (BSF)GENEVA, July 29, 2026 — Bullying Without Borders (BSF), through its Global Observatory on Bullying and Cyberbullying, presents its report on cyberbullying cases recorded in various countries during its 2026 survey.The report brings together figures compiled by the organization and highlights the urgent need to strengthen cyberbullying prevention. Along with bullying and online trolls, cyberbullying is one of three killers that continue to claim lives in silence.The findings presented below are based on BSF’s records. They should not automatically be interpreted as national prevalence estimates or as a comprehensive count of every cyberbullying incident that has occurred in each country.Countries with the Highest Number of Recorded CasesAccording to the figures published by BSF for 2026, the following ten countries or territories top its list of recorded cases:RankCountry or territoryRecorded cases1Spain480,0002United States440,0003Brazil420,0004Argentina320,0005Mexico300,0006England290,0007Germany280,0008Colombia280,0009Japan270,00010South Korea250,000Methodological note: These figures reproduce the values published by BSF. They should not be confused with incidence or prevalence rates calculated using comparable national populations.Universal Definition of Cyberbullying (2014–2025)Cyberbullying is any form of harassment or intimidation carried out through digital technologies—including social media, messaging services, email, online video games, and other electronic platforms—with the intention of humiliating, threatening, defaming, or causing psychological harm to another person.The definition also includes the distribution of images, videos, messages, or false content intended to harm the victim, as well as identity theft or impersonation through fake accounts and other digital means. Cyberbullying occurs when such behavior causes fear, distress, or anxiety in the person targeted.Developed by Dr. Javier Miglino Helfenstein, Worldwide Director of Bullying Without Borders, this definition emerged from the work of BSF’s International Observatory on Bullying and Cyberbullying. It identifies a defining feature of this form of harassment: it can continue around the clock, even outside school and beyond face-to-face contact between victims and their aggressors.What Behaviors Does Cyberbullying Include?Cyberbullying can take place on the internet, social media, mobile phones, messaging services, email, online video games, and other digital platforms.Behaviors that may constitute cyberbullying include:Repeatedly sending insults, threats, rumors, or messages intended to humiliate someone.Posting or circulating images and videos to harm another person.Spreading false information with the intention of damaging someone’s reputation.Impersonating someone through fake accounts or other digital means.Using digital platforms to intimidate, isolate, or exert control over a victim.Each case must be assessed in context, taking into account whether the behavior is repeated and what harm it causes. Not every disagreement or offensive comment online, in and of itself, constitutes cyberbullying.Cyberbullying: The Silent KillerUnlike face-to-face bullying, cyberbullying can follow victims beyond the classroom, reach large audiences, and remain accessible long after the original content has been posted.Anonymity or concealed identities can make it harder to identify those responsible. The circulation of messages, images, and videos can expose victims to a much wider audience and prolong their suffering.Loneliness, sadness, and fear are three factors that BSF identifies as central to understanding the impact of bullying. That is why listening to children and teenagers, taking their reports seriously, and acting promptly are essential prevention measures.A Definition That Helps Us Recognize and Prevent CyberbullyingBSF’s definition aims to help families, teachers, institutions, and public authorities recognize cyberbullying and understand that digital violence can have real-world consequences.The response cannot simply be to tell victims to leave social media or stand up for themselves. Incidents must be investigated, victims must be protected, and adults and institutions must be encouraged to intervene responsibly.An Invitation to the WHOJust as the Universal Definition of Bullying—already being studied in schools and universities in 100 countries worldwide and cited in legal doctrine and case law in Latin America and Spain—has contributed to the discussion, BSF invites the World Health Organization (WHO) to join this initiative by supporting the Universal Definition of Cyberbullying.The aim is to give the global community another tool to help protect the mental health of children, teenagers, young people, and adults. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying—and particularly harassment carried out through social media—does not discriminate by age.The cases of Jason Arday, Darrel Sheets, and Ken Urker bear witness to this reality.
“Bullying, cyberbullying, and online trolls are three killers that continue to claim lives in silence. Unlike traditional bullying or school bullying, cyberbullying does not end when the school bell rings. In the world of social media, online harassment continues 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is no Christmas, no New Year’s Day, and no birthday when it comes to online abuse. Any day, at any time, and anywhere, a person can be attacked and harassed. That is why the rule we developed at Bullying Without Borders for these cases has three (3) essential elements: prevention, prevention, and prevention.”
Distribution of Cases by Age and SexBSF’s original report attributes the following proportions to its survey:Nine out of every ten recorded incidents reportedly originate on social media or digital platforms.Among teenagers over the age of 13, six out of ten cases reportedly originate on social media.Among people aged 18 and older, that proportion reportedly rises to eight out of ten.Among people aged 30 and older, virtually all cases analyzed reportedly begin in digital environments.Women reportedly account for 70% of victims, with approximately 2.4 women affected for every man.Channels of Harassment and Frequency of AttacksThe report identifies mobile phones as playing a central role in online harassment and names WhatsApp as the channel most frequently mentioned by victims.The original publication attributes 50.8% of cases to WhatsApp and the remaining 49.2% to Facebook, X, and Instagram combined.It also states that more than 70% of victims reportedly receive attacks every three to four hours and that nearly half do not file a formal complaint.Methodology and Scope of the SurveyBSF’s Global Observatory on Bullying and Cyberbullying reports that its work draws on an international network of collaborators and information relating to bullying and cyberbullying incidents.The original publication mentions the participation of approximately 50,000 people, including participants and specialists from different countries.Sources and DocumentationInstitutional source: Bullying Without Borders (BSF), World Cyberbullying Statistics 2026, published July 29, 2026.This report may be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the source is credited.Bullying Without Borders (BSF)
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