Australia is in the grip of a cyber bullying epidemic with a record number of children targeted online.

    

Children in primary school are increasingly crying out for help to cope with online abuse. We've certainly seen an increase in the kind of severity of cyberbullying, its complexity 

and we think that the actual problem itself is on the rise also. In May, 230 cyberbullying complaints were lodged with the E -Safety Commissioner. Around 100 were from children aged 8 to 13. 

It's a huge jump compared to four years ago, when the Commissioner received a total of around 200 complaints from children 13 and under for the entire year. Social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram require users to be at least 13. 

I think the platforms really need to be very attentive to ensuring that those younger users are not allowed on the platforms. Cyber experts say children must be taught bullying is a criminal offence. 

I've been involved in several cases over the last few years where fellow students have in fact been identified and arrested because they've set up an account in another child's name 

and then use that account to bully or harass. The E -Safety Commissioner recommends parents don't immediately confiscate their child's devices if they discover they're being bullied as that also removes an essential way for them to stay in 

touch with friends. It's actually further punishing the child for someone else's behaviour. The E -Safety Commissioner can speak to a victim's school or even contact the perpetrator. 

We may issue an end user notice to the perpetrator requiring them to do things like remove the material, cease posting the material and even make an apology. MRO Sanovan, 7 News.