Public discussions in Lithuania increasingly center on youth cyberbullying, digital harassment, and the broader societal examples set for minors, following reports on severe online abuse and offline violence examined on the LRT television broadcast “Ne taip paprasta.”
The broadcast highlighted multiple cases involving child-on-child abuse, including an incident where a school administrator called a student’s mother, Ieva, to inform her that police had arrived after a group of boys vandalized school property. When another girl delivered the recording of the vandalism to school administration, the children began sending threatening messages to her and generated sexualized digital content about her, an effort that Ieva’s daughter joined. Ieva stated that she experienced shame and guilt upon learning of the situation, noting that a large portion of children’s lives unfolds within online social networks where bullying is widespread.
In a separate anonymous account shared on the program, the mother of a child reported that her daughter had been sexually assaulted multiple times by a neighbor boy under the age of ten, who threatened the family and demanded secrecy. According to the mother, the boy’s parents failed to stop the behavior, and an investigator warned that no pre-trial investigation would be launched due to the child’s age.
Legal Framework and Multi-Agency Intervention
Experts discussing the cases emphasized that criminal penalties alone cannot resolve youth violence. According to Gintautas Sakalauskas, a criminologist, Lithuanian law applies criminal liability for sexual offenses and certain serious crimes starting at age 14, and for other offenses starting at age 16. However, Sakalauskas noted that a lack of criminal responsibility does not mean a young person’s actions should face no consequences, suggesting tools like mediation to address harm without branding a child a criminal.
Marijampolė County Child Rights Protection Division Head Judita Matulevičienė stressed that emotional distress, observed behaviors, or health conditions can drive violent conduct, requiring individual evaluations and intensive support for both the child and their family rather than punishment alone. Psychologist Laura Milčienė added that children understand when they cause pain, but their responsibility depends on development and guidance.
Following the incident involving her daughter, Ieva banned the teenager from using social networks for two weeks and required her to send an apology message to her classmate. Matulevičienė and Milčienė both emphasized that understanding the underlying history of a misbehaving child is essential for rebuilding self-worth through achievements rather than humiliation.
Did You Know?
According to criminologist Gintautas Sakalauskas, rates of bullying were twice as high twenty years ago before the rise of modern digital networks, underscoring that the core issue lies in human relationships and adult supervision rather than the platforms themselves.
The Impact of Digital Environments and Public Examples
Singer Gabrielius Vagelis, who experienced bullying during elementary and music school due to his appearance and long hair, argued that hostile behavior is mirrored from adult society. Vagelis stated on the program that harsh online negativity and mudslinging in articles provide a harmful template that children ultimately replicate, leading them to believe that insulting others is acceptable behavior.
Ieva observed that digital bullying has become so normalized among youth that peers often dismiss it by claiming everyone bullies everyone online. Psychologist Laura Milčienė noted that thousands of views and reactions on violent social media content can incorrectly reinforce harmful behavior among minors, making adult responses critical in curbing such actions.
Expert Insight
Addressing this shift requires moving past immediate punitive measures toward coordinated family, school, and institutional interventions that examine the root causes of aggressive behavior.
What May Happen Next
Frequently Asked Questions
What age does criminal liability begin in Lithuania?
According to criminologist Gintautas Sakalauskas, criminal liability for sexual offenses and certain serious crimes applies from age 14, while liability for other offenses begins at age 16.
How did singer Gabrielius Vagelis experience bullying during his youth?
Gabrielius Vagelis experienced bullying in both elementary and music school primarily because of his appearance and long hair.
What measures did mother Ieva take after her daughter participated in cyberbullying?
Ieva banned her daughter from using social networks for two weeks and required her to send an apology message to the targeted classmate.
How do you think schools and parents can most effectively address cyberbullying among minors?
Keep reading