1. How often do you see bullying happen (including at school, after school and online)?

271 users responded to this question. Their two most common responses were

• “every day” (35.1%) and
• “more than once a week” (27.7%).

This tells us that bullying happens regularly in Canadian schools and communities, and that lots of young people witness these incidents.

2. Who do you think is most likely to be able to stop bullying?

272 users responded to this question. Their two most common responses were

• “students who are the same age as you” (30.1%) and
• “students who are older” (21.3%).

This tells us that young people feel that it’s up to them to stop bullying – more so than teachers, administrators, parents, or the police.

3. How do you think standing up to bullying could make a difference?

269 users answered this question. Their two most common responses were

• “It could show support for the person being bullied and help them feel less alone” (76.6%) and
• “it could help to stop the bullying behavior” (40.1%).

This tells us that young people feel that supporting peers who have been bullied is important, and that by showing opposition to bullying, young people can reduce incidents of bullying.

4. How do you think seeing other people being bullied affects bystanders?

269 users answered this question. Their two most common responses were

• “It could make them feel sad for the person being bullied” (52.0%), and
• “it could make them afraid of becoming a target” (59.5%).

This tells us that young people sympathize with their peers who are being bullied, and that witnessing bullying may make them fear being bullied themselves.

5. When you witness someone else being bullied, what do you normally do?

250 users answered this question. Their two most common responses were

• “Say or do something to try to stop the bullying” (30.8%) and
• “If a friend is being bullied, I’ll step in, but otherwise I don’t want to get involved” (30.0)."

This tells us that young people take bullying seriously, even if they don’t always try to stop bullying when they see it happening.

“I show acceptance by standing with the victim,” one respondent wrote. “This creates insecurity in the bully…his bullying is no longer effective after you step in.

6. If you don’t speak out or tell someone, why not?

235 users answered this question. Their two most common responses were

• “I don’t want it to be me who gets bullied next” (40.1%) and
• “I’ve told someone before and it didn’t help” (40%).

This tells us that many young people feel that speaking out against bullying isn’t effective, and may harm their safety.

One respondent wrote: “When a bully gets in trouble, retaliation kicks in; they do it more to "get back" at the victim.”

7. What would make it easier for you to speak out against bullying?

258 users answered this question. Their two most common answers were

• “Knowing that my peers would back me up” (61.6%) and
• “Knowing that my school would take it seriously” (58.1%).

This tells us that more young people would speak out against bullying if they knew it would help stop it, and if they could be sure they’d be safe. “No one wants to stand up for [someone who is being bullied] because they will also be a victim,” wrote one respondent. “If we tell a teacher then we will get teased too. It’s a lose-lose situation.” Another respondent wrote that it would make it easier to speak out if “all the other kids will agree with you and stand by your side and help defend the person getting bullied [but] people just watch!”