Context: Academic Difficulties and Bullying

In a French high school, a tenth-grade student facing academic difficulties and a school trajectory marked by academic failure was quickly exposed to isolation and ridicule from her peers. These difficulties, experienced as a personal failure, weakened her self-esteem and her position within the class group. She was regularly the target of hurtful remarks in class and, through a WhatsApp group, was excluded while also being subjected to rumors and humiliating messages.

This combination of verbal bullying and cyberbullying led to significant anxiety, social withdrawal, and a fear of participating in class. The student thus found herself vulnerable on both psychological and social levels, highlighting the need for a rapid and appropriate intervention in order to protect her mental health and ensure the continuity of her schooling.

Challenges

Identifying situations of cyberbullying occurring in private digital spaces (class WhatsApp groups).

Identifying indirect forms of bullying: rumors, social exclusion, and normalized verbal abuse.

Protecting a repeating student exposed to double stigmatization (academic failure and social isolation).

Assessing the impact of bullying on the student’s mental health and academic engagement.

Intervening quickly without increasing isolation or further exposing the victim.

Restoring a safe school climate and preventing the recurrence of violence.

Solution : Netethic education

Given the complexity of the situation and the primarily digital nature of the abuse, the school chose to integrate Netethic as a tool for preventing, detecting, and addressing cases of cyberbullying. Netethic’s approach facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the situation, taking into account the academic, social, and emotional dimensions of the bullying.

Results Achieved

Results Observed After 3 Months:

✔ Rapid detection of a cyberbullying incident linked to exclusion from a WhatsApp group and the spreading of rumors.
✔ Early intervention by the school administration and educational staff, preventing escalation of the violence.
✔ Implementation of supportive guidance for the student, aimed at restoring self-esteem and a sense of safety.
✔ Increased collective awareness within the class about the impact of hurtful words and digital exclusion.
✔ Reduction of stigmatizing behaviors and improvement of the relational climate.
✔ Gradual resumption of the student’s academic engagement, accompanied by decreased isolation and anxiety.