As communication has expanded through the internet and other digital media, people enjoy many benefits. But alongside these gains, cybercrimes are spreading like a virus, and the situation is getting increasingly alarming.
Cyberbullying is on the rise in Bangladesh, affecting men, women, and children. The free flow of technology has made life easier, but it has also created new social crises. With smartphones and the internet easily accessible, cyberbullying has become a silent epidemic, particularly harming the mental health of teenagers and young adults. According to the Bangladesh Cyber Crime Unit, about 75 per cent of online harassment victims are women. Globally, as of 2025, the UN reports that 60 per cent of women using the internet in the Arab region face online violence. In 12 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 50 per cent of women over 18 are victims of technology-based abuse, while in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa, 28 per cent face similar threats.
Cyberbullying involves using digital technology to harass, intimidate, or humiliate someone. It occurs through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, messaging apps, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. Common forms include sending harmful messages, sharing private photos or videos without consent, using fake IDs to slander, or isolating someone online.
Experts warn that the effects of cyberbullying can be longer-lasting compared with physical abuse. Victims often suffer from depression, anxiety, loss of self-confidence, educational setbacks, insomnia, loss of appetite and long-term mental trauma. They lose interest in school and studies, and constant fear and inferiority take a heavy toll.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced new risks, with criminals misusing sophisticated AI to steal money and sensitive information. Government and autonomous institutions in Bangladesh are becoming increasingly vulnerable to hacking.
Immediate, effective measures are needed to prevent cyberbullying and the misuse of technology. Without urgent intervention, this crisis may escalate into an epidemic worse than COVID-19.
MD. Noor Hamza Peash
LL.B. Student, Department of Law
World University of Bangladesh (WUB)