Ask Nina: "Cyberbullying in Indian Schools: When Fake Profiles & WhatsApp Gossip Turn Classrooms Into Battlefields"
- Nina Bual
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
Welcome to the 'Ask Nina' series, where our co-founder, Nina Bual, answers the most pressing questions from educators around the world.
Quick Read: From fake Instagram profiles to WhatsApp gossip, cyberbullying in Indian schools is rising. Yet, only 13% of victims report it - fear, shame, and confusion keep others silent. Schools, often unprepared, struggle to respond, while parent WhatsApp groups can worsen the issue. The solution? Anonymous reporting, digital safety education, and healthier parent-school conversations. The Bottom Line: Cyberbullying isn’t just a student issue—it’s a school-wide challenge. Proactive systems and informed communities are key to building safer digital spaces.
The New Playground for Bullies: Instagram, WhatsApp, and Anonymity
It starts with a harmless-looking Instagram page. A new profile appears, using the school’s name - but something is off. Posts start targeting specific students, mocking their appearance, academic performance, or personal lives. Then, it escalates. Teachers find themselves ridiculed, their lectures turned into memes, their voices auto-tuned for the latest viral joke. The school’s reputation? Tarnished in hours.
No one knows who is behind it, but the damage spreads like wildfire. Parents storm into the principal’s office, demanding answers. Teachers feel helpless, unsure whether they even have the authority to intervene. And the students? They stay silent. Some laugh along, others suffer quietly - because cyberbullying in India comes with a stigma that silences victims before they can speak up.
1. The Harsh Reality: Cyberbullying in India Is Underreported
Despite the growing crisis, only 13% of Indian children report cyberbullying.
Why?
Fear of retaliation: victims worry about making things worse.
Lack of awareness: many students don’t even know how to report cyberbullying in their school.
Shame and embarrassment: cyberbullying often targets personal vulnerabilities. Students don’t want to be seen as “weak.”
For every student who reports cyberbullying, there are dozens suffering in silence.
2. How Schools Are Being Dragged Into Online Feuds
It’s no longer just students being harassed—schools and teachers are now targets, too.
Fake profiles using the school’s name post defamatory content.
Insidious WhatsApp groups where students (and sometimes parents) spread rumors about classmates and faculty.
Exams leaks, manipulated videos, and AI-generated deepfakes—tools that were once the domain of tech geeks are now in the hands of teenagers.
When parents find out, they expect schools to act but most teachers have no training on handling digital harassment.
Free Stand Up Against Cyberbullying Activity PackDownload a free cyberbullying activity pack for students, with student worksheets, lesson slides, and a teacher's guide! |
3. The WhatsApp War: When Parents Join the Gossip Chain
Imagine this: a parent WhatsApp group starts buzzing with accusations, rumors, and half-truths. Instead of a supportive space, it becomes a breeding ground for online conflict.
"Did you see what that teacher did?"
"I heard the principal is ignoring complaints!"
"My child is being targeted, but the school is doing nothing!"
The school’s hands are tied. What authority do they have over what parents say online? And yet, these online battles spill into real-life tensions in classrooms.
The blurred line between school and digital spaces means teachers now spend more time managing online conflicts than actual teaching.
4. What Schools Can Do: Practical Steps to Combat Cyberbullying
A. Create an Anonymous Reporting System
Students fear speaking up, so schools must make reporting easy and safe.
Set up a dedicated, anonymous email where students can report cyberbullying without fear.
Encourage upstander behavior—students who witness bullying should have a safe way to report it too.
B. Educate, Educate, Educate
Most students don’t know their school’s cyberbullying policy—because there isn’t one. Schools must establish clear reporting procedures and make them visible.
Workshops for teachers & parents so they recognize the warning signs of cyberbullying and know what steps to take.
C. Schools Must Work WITH Parents, Not Against Them
Move parent conversations away from toxic WhatsApp gossip and into structured, school-moderated discussions.
Host sessions on digital responsibility—because often, parents are just as unaware of online harm as their kids.
5. The End Goal: A Cyber-Safe Culture in Indian Schools
Cyberbullying thrives in silence and confusion—but Indian schools don’t have to be helpless.
By setting up easy reporting channels, educating students on digital safety, and working with parents instead of against them, schools can take back control.
Because at the end of the day, social media drama shouldn’t dictate the safety of our schools.
Call to Action: Protect Students with Cyber Safety Training
📌 Cyberlite offers Cyber Safety Workshops for Schools—helping educators, students, and parents tackle cyberbullying head-on. Want to implement a reporting system in your school? Get in touch today!
Free Stand Up Against Cyberbullying Activity PackDownload a free cyberbullying activity pack for students, with student worksheets, lesson slides, and a teacher's guide! |