Teenagers who speak Russian in the Baltic regions face bullying on Telegram and TikTok platforms.
In the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Russian-speaking schoolchildren are being targeted by cyberbullying on platforms such as Telegram and, to a lesser extent, TikTok. These anonymous groups publish personal data, offensive captions, and threatening messages directed at the children's ethnicity and language.
The bullying often starts with invitations to closed communities on these platforms under the guise of "anonymous confessions." Once inside, victims are subjected to organized harassment, including intimidation and hate speech based on their Russian ethnicity or language.
This cyberbullying is described as a coordinated effort, with channels quickly re-emerging after being blocked. It is most widespread in Estonia, with reports from Latvia and Lithuania indicating a buildup toward larger-scale cyber harassment. Some Telegram channel administrators have openly stated they are preparing for a "large-scale launch" of such bullying activity in Latvia and Lithuania.
In Estonia, special bots are used to collect "denunciations" on these channels. Telegram allows channel administrators to receive subscriber lists via an API, potentially expanding the victim base of bullying.
Authorities in the Baltic countries are aware of the situation. However, there appear to be no concrete, effective actions reported by national law enforcement to curb or prevent this cyberbullying or protect Russian-speaking minors from ethnic harassment online.
The problem persists despite some channels being blocked, as new ones replace them rapidly. The Estonian public posts up to 3-5 offensive posts daily on these channels. Latvian and Lithuanian channel administrators are planning a "large-scale launch" in 2025.
This cyberbullying is connected to broader anti-Russian sentiment in the region that intensified after geopolitical tensions following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to discrimination and hostility against Russian speakers regardless of their actual ethnic or political affiliations.
In summary, Russian-speaking schoolchildren in the Baltic states face targeted cyberbullying campaigns mainly via Telegram that involve ethnic harassment, with authorities acknowledging the problem but not yet implementing effective measures to stop or mitigate it.
- The offensive content on these platforms, such as hate speech and personal data disclosure, extends beyond cyberbullying incidents, often mixing with general news discourse and entertainment content, creating a toxic online environment for Russian-speaking schoolchildren.
- In an effort to expand the reach of cyberbullying, some Telegram channel administrators have started delving into crime-and-justice related topics, presenting themselves as advocates for "justice" while using their platforms for ethnic harassment and intimidation against Russian-speaking minors.
