The Prevalence and Impact of Cyberbullying on Young People

Cyberbullying: A Growing Public Health Threat

In many ways, the emergence of cyberbullying was inevitable and predictable enough given the dark side of human nature. The introduction of the Internet and the corresponding anonymity it provides has created a public health threat that endangers everyone who uses online resources such as social media or forums, and young people in particular are at an elevated risk of becoming the victims of cyberbullying today. Despite the lack of physical confrontation, cyberbullying can still cause a wide range of mental and physical disorders, including even death due to suicide. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature to provide a working definition of cyberbullying and to identify recent and current trends. Finally, a description of some of the health-related concerns that are caused by cyberbullying is followed by a summary of the findings in the conclusion.

Review and Discussion

The U.S. federal government’s definition states that, “Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets” (Overview of Bullying 2023, 2). Because online resources provide multiple avenues for interaction with others, it is not surprising that people of all ages, but especially adolescents, are vulnerable to being victimized by cyberbullies. Moreover, even the normal use of email or cell phones can provide an avenue for cyberbullying attacks or essentially any online activity where other people are involved. In this regard, the federal government’s Stop Bullying Web site emphasizes that, “Cyberbullying can occur through SMS [Short Message Service], Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content” (Overview of Bullying 4).

Like conventional bullying, cyberbullying can also assume a number of different forms. For instance, the Stop Bullying site provides some additional definitional clarity by reporting, “Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation” (Overview of Cyberbullying 5). Under certain circumstances, cyberbullying activities even become criminal in nature, making the perpetrators subject to prosecution (Overview of Cyberbullying 2023).

More troubling still, the average use of the same resources that make young people vulnerable to cyberbullying has increased dramatically in recent years, most especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic where people of all ages have been compelled to remain at home more than ever (Gohal et al. 2023). In fact, a study by Common Sense Media found that, “Overall screen use among teens and tweens increased by 17 percent from 2019 to 2021 — growing more rapidly than in the four years prior” (Moyer 2022, 3). Not surprisingly, social media represents an integral part of young people’s lives, and adolescents spend an average of 9 hours a day, an estimate that does not include time spent on homework. Further, an overwhelming majority (>90%) of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years have experience using social media platforms and three-quarters have at least one active account present; likewise, more than half (51%) visit at least one social media site on a daily basis (Social Media and Teens 2023).

In sum, most adolescents today live in a digital world where cyberbullying proliferates. While the response to cyberbullying varies significantly from individual to individual, the research to date indicates that some of the adverse effects of cyberbullying include “anger, sadness, concern, anxiety, fear, and depression, [and] may limit students’ academic performance and cause higher absenteeism rates” (Gohal et al. 2023, 2). Indeed, some adolescents’ reaction to sustained cyberbullying can even result in their taking their own lives (Social Media and Teens 2023).

A cross-sectional conducted by Gohal et al. using 355 students aged 12 to 18 years assessed the prevalence of cyberbullying, identified salient risk factors, and evaluated the effect of cyberbullying on adolescents\\\\\\\' mental health. The study found that the overall prevalence of cyberbullying was 42.8% with male prevalence slightly higher than females, 20% of participants spent more than 12 hours daily on the internet, and 26.3% of participants were significantly affected in their academic performance due to cyberbullying. Approximately 20% considered leaving school, 19.7% considered ceasing internet use, and 21.1% considered harming themselves due to cyberbullying. The study concluded that cyberbullying is prevalent among adolescents with significant psychological effects and highlights the need for collaboration between authorities and the leaders in the community to protect adolescents from the harmful effects of cyberbullying (Gohal et al. 2023).