Cyberbullying in South Korea a growing problem
Research at the University of South Florida shows that online bullying in Asia reaches all ages – from elementary school to adults. Researchers concentrated on South Korea, one of the most wired countries in the world. Cyberbullying is so rampant there that students favor government regulations that require users to provide their real names.
Students from four South Korean Universities were surveyed. Almost three-fourths of the students knew a victim of cyberbullying and that half of the bullies were in elementary or middle school. They further reported that some of the worst cyberbullying was done by adults.
When asked in the survey why cyberbullying is so intense in South Korea, respondents explained that South Koreans live in a highly competitive society but are expected to be extremely polite in person. “They get behind a computer and just let it all out,” stated researcher Tahseen Ismail.
The Korean government recognizes the problem and requires websites with more than 100,000 visitors a day to verify their users through a real name system. The majority of the students surveyed agreed with the law.
