Why digital citizenship needs a redesign.
GUEST COLUMN | by Teodora Pavkovic
YINDEE
Today’s students face more pervasive and nuanced cyberbullying than ever before. What once took place in public chat rooms or social media comment sections has splintered into private messaging apps and gaming communities. The types of content used for bullying have changed, too – AI technology has made it possible to generate entirely fabricated content including audio files, photos, and even realistic-looking videos.
How can schools help protect students in a world where bullying is constant, harder to detect, and increasingly fueled by new technology?
‘How can schools help protect students in a world where bullying is constant, harder to detect, and increasingly fueled by new technology?’
And equally important: How can we equip students with the skills and resilience to navigate these digital threats to their wellbeing and self-worth?
How AI is fueling deception, propagation, and cruelty in cyberbullying
Today’s bullying has transformed into incessant, shape-shifting threats that follow students everywhere, and AI has changed – and amplified – the cyberbullying scene in a variety of ways:
- Deepfakes and AI-generated images or audio clips can be weaponized, spreading misinformation that’s increasingly difficult to disprove; and providing tools to invent embarrassing or incriminating content about a person, without requiring the victim’s involvement at all.
- Performative bullying – where incidents are recorded and shared for public humiliation – is on the rise, making cruelty not just personal but often permanent.
- The widespread accessibility of ‘nudify apps’ (often advertised on major social media platforms) makes it easy for children to stumble into both ethical and legal trouble, simply by uploading a photo of a peer, teacher, or friend. This type of bullying is not only cruel, but creating and distributing nudes of minors – even of oneself – is illegal.
- Automated troll bots, which can be used on nearly any platform, make it incredibly easy to harass someone 24/7 with minimal effort.
- Content created within AI platforms may not be flagged by a school’s traditional web filter because if the AI website itself isn’t blocked; and in private chat spaces, like Discord or WhatsApp, bullying often escapes adult detection altogether.
What makes these trends especially concerning is the 24/7 exposure students face. Unlike traditional bullying, there’s no school bell to signal safety. Students live their lives on their devices and bullying has spilled into their most frequented digital community spaces.
The emotional toll can be profound: the feeling of being publicly shamed, the fear of doxing (the threat of having private information leaked), and the lack of physical or mental escape can lead to severe anxiety, depression, and even self-harm. These extreme effects aren’t limited to only the ‘severe’ cases of bullying – a recent study published in May 2025 found that even ‘minor’ forms of cyberbullying can cause symptoms of PTSD in children.
Using technology for good
As technology evolves, so does the emotional and psychological impact on students, and the responsibility placed on schools to keep up. In the classroom and beyond, educators are now tasked with not only delivering academic content but also safeguarding students’ digital wellbeing.
In some cases, the same tools that can amplify harm, such as AI-driven platforms, can also be leveraged to create safer and more supportive learning environments.
For example, digital safeguarding technologies like a suite of safety solutions can alert school staff to potential threats, harmful language, or unsafe online behavior in real time – allowing staff to intervene before an incident escalates.
These tools are particularly valuable in identifying issues that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as subtle patterns of exclusion in group chats or early signs of online harassment that have not yet been reported.
It’s time to rethink how we teach digital citizenship
While filtering and digital threat detection form an essential foundation for student safety, the impact of these tools is strongest when paired with intentional education.
Historically, digital citizenship instruction focused on restrictions: don’t share your password, don’t post mean comments, don’t talk to strangers online. Students need to understand why certain behaviors online are harmful, how to protect themselves and others, and how to use technology ethically.
The digital world today is far more complex, and our teaching strategies must evolve accordingly. Beyond teaching children which negative online behaviors not to engage in, it’s equally important to teach them the alternative positive online behaviors that we want them to engage in.
As educators, this requires a shift from teaching a “don’t do this” approach to empowering students with the skills to safely and ethically navigate online spaces.
This includes:
Teaching AI literacy
In addition to the digital literacy that is already being taught in most schools, AI literacy requires its own space in the modern curriculum. Students should be taught to identify AI-generated content, recognize its biases, and use AI tools ethically.
Educators can incorporate AI literacy by designing lessons that show examples of AI-generated images, text, or videos alongside human-created content, encouraging students to critically analyze differences and question authenticity. Classroom discussions should address how biases stemming from training data can shape AI outputs, and why skepticism is important.
Practicing data privacy
Understanding how personal data is collected, shared, and monetized is key to keeping students safe in the online world, particularly as AI becomes prolific. For example, AI bots may use sensitive and/or personal data for further training, which exposes that data to the wider public.
Schools can integrate data privacy education through interactive workshops where students examine popular apps and websites to uncover what information they collect and why. Teachers should emphasize the importance of reading terms of service and making informed choices about consent.
By giving students concrete tools, like using privacy-focused browsers or two-factor authentication, educators empower them to take control of their digital footprints.
Building resilience and empathy
Digital citizenship goes beyond rules; it cultivates emotional intelligence that empowers students to handle online conflict and support one another. Teach students how to set clear boundaries, such as when to mute or block toxic interactions. Encourage empathy by exploring diverse perspectives in digital communication—a skill that’s becoming more relevant due to built-in biases in AI systems.
The lure of highly personalized AI bots makes it more important than ever to encourage students to develop and cultivate their EQ, to be able to identify when their use of an AI companion bot has perhaps crossed beyond healthy boundaries.
These practices help students develop the emotional skills needed to navigate the complexities of digital life with confidence and compassion.
When schools weave these lessons into daily learning through discussions, role-playing and critical thinking exercises, they empower students not only to navigate the digital world but also to shape it positively.
From protecting students to empowering them in their digital lives
AI has become an integral part of education, shifting the question from “if” to “how” we introduce these tools responsibly to young minds. This includes both protecting students from harm and preparing them to be thoughtful, respectful participants in the digital landscape.
Combating cyberbullying requires more than monitoring; it calls for a comprehensive approach to digital citizenship that equips students to critically engage with technology, protect their privacy, and foster empathy. As trusted environments for honest conversations and hands-on practice, schools are uniquely positioned to lead this evolution in digital citizenship.
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Teodora Pavkovic is Director of Wellbeing and Parent Advocacy at Barcelona-based Qustodio, a global leader in online safety and digital wellbeing for families. Connect with Teodora on LinkedIn.
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