Cyberbullying of children in Bulgaria has fallen by almost 15% in the past four years, according to the latest data from the Bulgarian Academy for Security. That means 302,400 fewer children have been harmed online.

This report follows our earlier story on the "Cyber Defenders" exhibition, whose opening at the NHK House of Culture in Burgas was announced for 7 October.

Children and schoolchildren came to the opening today. The exhibition is about how children can stay safe online.

Academy chairman Prof Vladimir Bronfenbrener sees the results as positive, but says cyberbullying is still a serious problem. He told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR): "The results are still worrying, but 15% is not a small number." The professor said Bulgaria is among the leading EU countries with the lowest share of children hit by cyberbullying.

Bronfenbrener set up the "Cyber Defenders" programme in Bulgaria in 2019. Burgas region has been the pilot area since December 2025, and the project now runs in all 110 schools with a 4th grade. The training takes place in the schools themselves. Bronfenbrener said the aim is for each school to teach children these skills on its own, without outside help.

District prosecutor Maria Markova was a guest at the opening. She spoke about real cases that reached law enforcement. "We have opened many files and cases over the various situations involving you, and not only you, children, but your classmates too," she told BNR. She said some cases reach the point where criminal liability is sought. Markova called on children to be careful online.