A new report that shows half of teenagers admit to having bullied others is a “sad indictment” on society, according to Brunel’s Professor Ian Rivers.
The poll, carried out by anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label, found that 50 per cent of the 3,600 teenagers surveyed said they had bullied someone. Thirty per cent admitted to doing so at least once a week, with 21 per cent bullying someone several times each week.
Of the 13 to 20-year-olds who took part in the survey, 43 per cent claimed to have been bullied, with 51 per cent saying it was because of their appearance and 23 per cent claiming they were targeted because they received high grades.
Prof Rivers, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Ditch the Label, said: “This report demonstrates the importance that we now place upon physical appearance, weight, size and body shape. It is a sad indictment on society that young people judge by how a person looks rather than by actions or deeds. We need to encourage young people to look beyond the surface and value one another.”
All of those surveyed were asked whether they would like to change their appearance, with 37 per cent saying they wanted to weigh less, 48 per cent wanting teeth-whitening treatment and 6 per cent wanting liposuction.
Ditch the Label’s Annual Bullying Survey 2015 can be found here.