The impact of cyber bullying, sextortion and scams on schoolchildren

Today’s students live in a constantly connected world. Phones, tablets, and laptops have become essential to learning — but they also expose young people to escalating digital risks. Research shows that 58% of tweens and 75% of teens have already faced cyberbullying, explicit content, or predatory contact:

In 2023, the Cyberbullying Research Centre reported that 13.7% of secondary students in Malaysia had experienced cyberbullying, while 17.1% reported suicidal behaviours and 8.4% attempted suicide.

CodeBlue found that suicide attempts among teens aged 13–17 rose from 6.9% in 2017 to 9.5% in 2022; among teenage girls, the rate was an alarming 13.4%.

A 2025 study in the National Library of Medicine reported that suicide attempt prevalence was 4.8% across countries including Singapore, China, India, Indonesia, and Iran.

Online predators exploit vulnerabilities through grooming, sextortion, and fake profiles, leaving victims with trauma, shattered confidence, and in the most tragic cases — suicide.

Schools already work tirelessly to protect students within classrooms. But how can that same commitment extend to the digital environment? What protocols, systems, and partnerships are in place when a student is contacted, stalked, or threatened online?

While this is an uncomfortable topic it is one of the fastest growing issues facing schools and parents today. This roundtable will bring together education leaders and wellbeing professionals to:

Share current strategies and programmes for online safety.

Explore ways to strengthen partnerships with parents.

Discuss proactive solutions to block predatory contact before it begins.

Who Should Attend: Principals, Vice Principals, Directors of Wellbeing, School Welfare Officers, Psychologists, Counsellors, Student Affairs Officers, Directors of Operations, Chief Operating Officers, and all professionals responsible for student wellbeing and digital safety.

Because every child deserves a safe digital classroom.

In collaboration with Piedmont | Norton

Sign-up only! Download the Bett Asia 2025 app from Google Play or Apple Store to register your place now.

Wednesday 01 October 11:45 - 12:15 Educator x EdTech Exchange

Add to calendar 10/01/2025 11:45 10/01/2025 12:15 The impact of cyber bullying, sextortion and scams on schoolchildren An in-depth look at the impact of cyber bullying, sextortion and scams on schoolchildren in Asia, and how to protect them from online predators.

In collaboration with Piedmont | Norton Educator x EdTech Exchange Asia/Shanghai