Don't Look Away: How can we protect children and teens year-round from bullying?
As South Africa concludes the 16 Days of Activism, the Don’t Look Away campaign has highlighted the emotional and social toll of bullying in schools, workplaces, and online spaces.
16 days on, it is clear how widespread the problem remains and how it continues to affect the mental health and well-being of young people and adults alike.
The urgent question now is: what have we learned, and what practical changes are needed to create safer, more supportive environments for everyone?
GBV is a 365-day emergency
While the campaign has highlighted the urgent need to tackle bullying, experts and advocacy groups warn that broader societal issues cannot be solved in just 16 days.
The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) emphasises that gender-based violence (GBV), including digital abuse, is a 365-day emergency.
Shelters and frontline workers provide vital safe spaces and education but cannot manage the national crisis alone.
“For many years, shelters have warned that words, however well-intentioned – will not stem the tide of violence and murder.
“But now that President Ramaphosa has (once again) acknowledged, on such an important stage as the G20 Leaders’ Summit, that GBV is both a national and global crisis, even declaring it as a national disaster, we hope to see all the talk turn into positive and constructive action,” said Greer Schoeman, an NSMSA board member.
Sonke Gender Justice also commended the President’s decision. “As civil society we are cautiously optimistic about this classification and will be engaging with government to examine what this declaration truly means and whether it reflects what we have been calling for, particularly in relation to what will be gazetted in the regulations,” said co-executive director Bafana Khumalo.
What the campaign revealed
The campaign has laid bare the widespread scale of bullying in South Africa both in schools and online with recent data showing that over 11,000 incidents were reported in public schools between October 2024 and September 2025.
Reports from early in the 2025 academic year alone show hundreds of new cases nationally, underlining that bullying remains a persistent and growing crisis.
More troubling still, the campaign has exposed the shifting nature of bullying in the digital age: cyberbullying is now as damaging, if not more so, than in-person harassment. Many learners suffer relentless abuse online, which doesn’t stop when the school bell rings it follows them home.
This is through phones and social media, invading what should be safe spaces and exacerbating mental‑health risks including anxiety, depression, self-harm tendencies, and academic decline.
Yet, the campaign also uncovered glimmers of hope where schools have taken proactive measures, anti‑bullying programmes are beginning to show results. Some institutions have set up dedicated safety committees, established reporting systems, and actively involved parents to detect and address harassment early on.
These examples suggest that with sustained effort, open communication and structural support, the culture of silence and fear can be challenged, but only if the wider community and government commit to real, long-term change.
Troubling data
Recent research by Teneo School shows that online searches for ‘school bullying’ in South Africa surged by 1 343% in November. According to Google search trends, there were more than 23,000 searches last month alone, as parents and educators respond to viral videos and reports of violent incidents in schools.
The surge highlights growing anxiety among families about the physical and psychological risks children face in traditional classrooms.
“The 1,300% rise in searches tells us that families are looking for solutions…Every child deserves to learn without fear, and technology, used responsibly, can help make that possible,” said Lientjie Pelser, the head of academic phases at Teneo School.
How do we sustain the momentum?
To sustain momentum, the campaign underscores the need for continuous community engagement, consistent monitoring, and the integration of anti-bullying initiatives into school curricula.
Parents, teachers, and learners must be empowered with practical tools to recognise and respond to bullying, both offline and online, while schools should institutionalise clear reporting systems and support structures.
PCI Certified parent and personal coach Martina Mondelli urged parents to raise cyber-smart children.
“Fear-based approaches, such as saying ‘the internet is dangerous’. These messages can push children into secrecy or make technology feel frightening or forbidden, which leaves them unprepared when they inevitably go online.”
The alternative is a home culture built on curiosity. Parents can sit beside their children as they play, talk about what they’re watching, and model their own digital habits.
“Tell children that technology is part of our world. Tell them that they are capable and that you as a parent are here to help you learn how to use it well,” Mondelli added.
Additionally, partnerships with NGOs, technology platforms, and local government can help amplify awareness campaigns, provide accessible mental health resources, and ensure that every child has a safe environment to learn and grow.
Only through year-round, coordinated efforts can the culture of silence be broken and real, lasting change be achieved.
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