In Germany, a website that encourages users to share gossip has created a heated public debate.

by Rune H. Rasmussen

"Who are the ten ugliest girls in our school?" asks a student from Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on isharegossip.com. Subsequently, he got a lot of suggestions, and all the suggested people were exposed with their full names.

This story was recently published by the Berlin-based newspaper Tagesspiegel, which assesses that isharegossip has become the spearhead of cyber bullying in Germany. Young people from all across the country visit the website, on which pupils are spreading discrediting rumors about fellow pupils and verbally harassing their peers. The environment encourages this, as it is anonymous and easily lets users find their city and their school.

As a result of the widespread use of the website, teachers report an increasing atmosphere of distrust and hostility in school classes in which pupils have been bullied. Statistically, one in four German students has been victimized through the website.
 
Take action against cyber bullying
Youth organizations are protesting and the public prosecution office of the city of Frankfurt is investigating against the owners of the website, still without success.

The online magazine meedia advises young people to not answer the bullying attack. Instead, take screenshots and contact the page owner, and insist on deleting the content. They also recommend that victims take action, contact teachers and authorities and present evidence.

About isharegossip.com
Isharegossip.com was registered in New Zealand, the servers are in Sweden and the official owner is a company registered in Riga, Latvia.

In an anonymous interview with the "Journal Frankfurt”, one of the owners of isharegossip.com states: "The website is about revenge, it is a never ending circuit. If people knew who was behind all the gossip, they would never say it. It is about cowardice and power." He points out that the website cannot be blamed if people get hurt: "It's the users who make the website what it is."

Protect the wellbeing of children
”isharegossip is an example of how the Internet can offer negative and potentially damaging opportunities to children,” says Carole Hart-Fletcher, UK Director of Kids and Media. “The bullies will be attracted to the shelter of anonymity this site provides allowing them to unleash very emotionally damaging attacks on their victims.”  

”At Kids and Media we are very concerned that sites of this nature should be brought to the attention of parents allowing them to make informed judgements when protecting the wellbeing of their children.”

”To prepare children for their potential exposure to such a site, rather than drawing attention to it would be better to discuss cyber safety on a regular basis encouraging children to share their concerns when they stumble upon unsavoury content and features,” Hart-Fletcher says.

Useful links:

Insafe Cyber bullying resources

Related articles on kidsandmedia.org:

Cyber bullying video

What is digital bullying?

Problems related to digital bullying

Cyber bullying Tips

What to do if your child is being bullied

Sources:

Insafe

Tagesspiegel.de

Meedia.de