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COVID-19, school closures and (cyber)bullying in Germany

Author

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  • Helen Rahlff
  • Ulf Rinne
  • Hendrik Sonnabend

Abstract

We analyse the prevalence of bullying in Germany during COVID-19, both as in-person bullying (in our context: school bullying) and via social media and electronic communication tools (cyberbullying). Using Google Trends data from 2013 to 2022 and exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment when schools switched to distance learning, we document stark changes in the prevalence of (cyber)bullying in Germany: Our results indicate that during school years affected by COVID-19, online searches for school bullying decreased by about 29 percent, while online searches for cyberbullying increased by about 40 percent during the same periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Rahlff & Ulf Rinne & Hendrik Sonnabend, 2025. "COVID-19, school closures and (cyber)bullying in Germany," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(6), pages 852-865, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:33:y:2025:i:6:p:852-865
    DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2024.2427644
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    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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