AI-Driven Cyberbullying Threatens One in Ten Students: UNESCO

Artificial intelligence technologies are fuelling a surge in cyberbullying incidents among students across the region, with UNESCO highlighting alarming trends in its latest assessment. The organisation estimates that approximately one in ten learners are experiencing online harassment, a figure that underscores the growing severity of digital abuse in educational settings.

The proliferation of AI-powered tools has made it easier for perpetrators to scale abusive campaigns, automate targeted harassment, and generate harmful content at unprecedented speed. Students in India and neighbouring countries are increasingly vulnerable to coordinated online attacks, impersonation, and the spread of defamatory material through social media platforms and messaging applications.

In response, UNESCO has called for comprehensive action from governments and educational institutions. The organisation is urging countries to develop robust digital safety frameworks, invest in teacher training programmes to equip educators with skills to identify and respond to cyberbullying, and establish accessible mental health support systems for affected students.

Experts stress that a multi-stakeholder approach is essential, involving policymakers, technology companies, schools, parents, and young people themselves. UNESCO emphasises that without urgent intervention, the mental health and academic performance of vulnerable students will continue to deteriorate, making prevention and support mechanisms critical priorities for the region.