Schools urged to adopt new anti-bullying framework as cyberbullying cases surge

The Australian government has called on schools to implement updated anti-bullying measures following a sharp increase in reported cyberbullying incidents, with education ministers endorsing revised guidelines under the National Safe Schools Framework. The push comes as data shows a 34 percent rise in cyberbullying reports across state education systems over the past year, with most incidents occurring via direct messaging platforms including Instagram, Snapchat and Discord.

Real-time pattern detection closes the gap between incident and intervention. Guardii's cyberbullying module monitors direct-message exchanges for escalation, sustained targeting and coercion as they unfold, surfacing a child under attack to parents or school welfare staff before harm compounds, and doing so without requiring adults to read transcripts or children to self-report. Backed by Startmate and operating as a Meta Business Partner, the platform works across the messaging channels where Australian students are most at risk, blocking hostile contact at the point of arrival rather than relying on retrospective reporting frameworks that depend on a distressed child coming forward.