Brazil Sees 67% Surge in Reported Bullying and Cyberbullying Among Youth in 2025
Reported incidents of bullying and cyberbullying against children and adolescents in Brazil increased by a significant 67.3% in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the 20th Annual Report on Public Security. A total of 5,226 cases involving victims aged 0 to 17 were recorded, a rise from 3,161 in 2024. This marks the largest growth among all violence indicators against young people analyzed in the report. The increase partly reflects greater societal and institutional assimilation of new laws that formally criminalized bullying and cyberbullying in 2024, as well as improved reporting systems. Sociologist Cauê Martins of the Brazilian Public Security Forum noted that police reports capture only a fraction of the actual problem, with most cases not reaching law enforcement. Data from the 2024 National School Health Survey (PeNSE) indicates that four in ten students aged 13 to 17 reported experiencing bullying at school, highlighting a much larger scale of the issue than official police records suggest. Both bullying and cyberbullying saw growth exceeding 60%, with bullying cases rising 68.2% to 4,549 and cyberbullying up 61.4% to 677. The report also detailed regional variations, with São Paulo more than doubling its reported cases and states like Maranhão and Mato Grosso do Sul showing substantial proportional increases, further supporting the idea that improved notification systems are a key factor. Violence among peers is concentrated from age 10 onwards, with the highest rates of bullying among 10-13 year olds and cyberbullying peaking around age 14.
The substantial reported increase in bullying and cyberbullying in Brazil, occurring after the formal criminalization of these acts, warrants careful interpretation. While the rise in official records may indicate improved detection and reporting mechanisms, it also signals a concerning escalation in harmful peer interactions. This trend underscores the critical need for comprehensive preventative strategies within educational institutions and broader public awareness campaigns. Examining the disparity between official statistics and survey data is crucial for understanding the true prevalence and for developing effective interventions that address the root causes of this escalating issue, particularly as digital platforms become more integrated into young people's lives.
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