For Prelims: UNESCO, Cyber Bullying, Technology-Facilitated Violence (TFV), Full form of TFV, Nodal agency, Report name, Key stat, Trend (44 countries, 2018-2022)
For Mains: Technology-Facilitated Violence (TFV), AI-driven harassment, digital safety in education, child protection in the digital age
Source:
The Hindu
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- UNESCO's 'Connected and Safe' policy brief says 1 in 10 students face cyber bullying globally.
- One in three students experiences bullying every month worldwide.
- Cyber bullying prevalence in 44 countries rose from 12% to 15% between 2018 and 2022.
- AI tools like nudification apps and voice cloning are accelerating technology-facilitated violence (TFV).
- UNESCO is working on a global recommendation on young people and digital environments in the age of AI.
Why in the news?
UNESCO's policy brief 'Connected and Safe' reveals that one in ten students globally faces cyber bullying, with AI tools like nudification apps and voice cloning accelerating technology-facilitated violence (TFV). The report calls for coordinated investment in digital safety, teacher training, and mental health support.
Summary
- One in three students globally experiences bullying every month; one in ten faces cyber bullying, per UNESCO.
- AI-driven threats such as nudification apps, voice cloning, and automated harassment are emerging in school incidents across regions.
- UNESCO has launched a process toward a global recommendation on young people and digital environments in the age of AI.
Highlights
Global Scale of Bullying
One in three students experiences bullying monthly; one in ten faces cyber bullying, according to UNESCO data.
AI as a New Threat Vector
Nudification apps, voice cloning, automated harassment, and AI companion apps for grooming are now used in school-based incidents.
Call for Coordinated Action
UNESCO urges investment in digital safety, teacher prep, mental health support, and coordination across education, child protection, health, and tech sectors.
Background
Bullying and cyber bullying have long been recognised as threats to student well-being and educational outcomes. UNESCO's previous reports highlighted that violence in schools affects millions. The new 'Connected and Safe' policy brief updates the data and specifically addresses how AI technologies are creating new forms of technology-facilitated violence (TFV) that schools are ill-equipped to handle.
Key Analysis and Impact
The report shows a clear upward trend: across 44 high-income countries, cyber bullying prevalence rose from 12% to 15% between 2018 and 2022. Girls, learners with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and those from marginalised backgrounds face more severe harm. AI tools like nudification apps and voice cloning lower the barrier for perpetrators and make detection harder. This has direct consequences for students' mental health, participation, and learning outcomes, and places new demands on education systems and technology companies.
Way Forward
UNESCO has launched a process toward a new global recommendation on young people and digital environments in the age of AI. The policy brief recommends sustained investment in teacher preparation, mental health and psychosocial support, reporting and response systems, digital safety measures, and coordinated action across education, child protection, health, and technology sectors. Countries are expected to develop national action plans integrating these elements.
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- UNESCO
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; a specialised agency of the UN founded in 1945, headquartered in Paris, working on education, science, culture, and communication.
- Cyber Bullying
- Bullying that takes place over digital devices like phones, computers, and tablets, including sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else.
- Technology-Facilitated Violence (TFV)
- Violence or harmful behaviour that is enabled by digital technologies, including online harassment, image-based abuse, stalking, and grooming using AI tools.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: 1 in 10 students face cyber bullying; 1 in 3 face bullying monthly; cyber bullying rose from 12% to 15% (2018-2022) in 44 countries
- Nodal Body: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
- Legal Point: Process towards a new global recommendation on young people and digital environments in the age of AI
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may swap 'one in ten' with 'one in three' for cyber bullying, or confuse the 12% to 15% rise with the overall bullying figure. They may also ask about the report name ('Connected and Safe') or attribute it to another UN agency like UNICEF or WHO.
Write these in mains answers
- Technology-Facilitated Violence (TFV), AI-driven harassment, digital safety in education, child protection in the digital age
Stuck? Get it in one tap
UNESCO released a report called 'Connected and Safe' that found one in ten students around the world has been cyber bullied. It also warns that new AI tools like apps that create fake nude images or clone voices are making this problem worse. The report says countries need to invest more in digital safety, teacher training, and mental health support for students.
- UNESCO's 'Connected and Safe' policy brief says 1 in 10 students face cyber bullying globally.
- One in three students experiences bullying every month worldwide.
- Cyber bullying prevalence in 44 countries rose from 12% to 15% between 2018 and 2022.
- AI tools like nudification apps and voice cloning are accelerating technology-facilitated violence (TFV).
- UNESCO is working on a global recommendation on young people and digital environments in the age of AI.
- Society: Child welfare and education
- Science and Technology: AI and ethics
Related concepts: UNESCO, Cyber Bullying, Technology-Facilitated Violence (TFV)
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which United Nations agency released the 'Connected and Safe' policy brief on cyber bullying and technology-facilitated violence?
Explanation: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) released the 'Connected and Safe' policy brief. UNICEF focuses on children's welfare, WHO on health, and UNODC on drugs and crime; none of them authored this specific report on school bullying and AI threats.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding UNESCO's 'Connected and Safe' policy brief:
- 1.One in ten students globally faces cyber bullying.
- 2.Boys are more exposed to psychological bullying than girls.
- 3.The prevalence of cyber bullying in 44 countries rose from 12% to 15% between 2018 and 2022.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: one in ten learners faces cyber bullying. Statement 2 is incorrect: the report states girls are more exposed to psychological bullying, particularly cyber bullying, not boys. Statement 3 is correct: prevalence rose from 12% to 15% in 44 countries between 2018 and 2022. Hence option C is correct.
- Q3Medium
According to UNESCO's policy brief, what percentage of students across 44 countries experienced cyber bullying in 2022?
Explanation: The policy brief states that across 44 countries in Europe, Central Asia and North America, cyber bullying prevalence rose to 15% by 2022. 12% was the 2018 figure, 10% is the global average for cyber bullying, and 33% is the global figure for all bullying (monthly).
- Q4Medium
What is the primary concern raised by UNESCO regarding AI in the context of school violence?
Explanation: UNESCO warns that AI is fueling new forms of technology-facilitated violence, including nudification apps, voice cloning, automated harassment, and AI companion apps used for grooming. The other options describe potential positive uses of AI, but the report's concern is the new threat AI poses to student safety.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the name of UNESCO's policy brief on cyber bullying?
The policy brief is called 'Connected and Safe'.
2. What percentage of students globally face cyber bullying according to UNESCO?
One in ten students (10%) globally faces cyber bullying.
3. How did cyber bullying prevalence change between 2018 and 2022 across 44 countries?
It rose from 12% to 15% among both boys and girls.
4. Who is the Director-General of UNESCO?
Khaled El-Enany is the Director-General of UNESCO.
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- Original9 November 2026 · Read story
