The time teens are spending on digital devices has given rise to cyberbullying, but it’s not so easy to spot because it’s often hidden from the public eye. Here are some tips to help you recognize it when you see it happening in your own child’s life.
Cyberbullying
It is bullying that happens through digital devices
- e.g. social media, text, email, instant messages, and gaming
- Often sends or shares harmful or mean content about someone to embarrass them, and is often done anonymously
- There are many different interpretations of cyberbullying, and studies rely on self-reporting
Increased screen time
71 percent of U.S. parents with a child age 11 or younger are concerned that their child might spend too much time in front of screens, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
Taking Action
The most effective way to prevent cyberbullying is to block the bully
- 36 percent of victims ask the bully to stop cyber bullying them, 34 percent block all communication with the bully, and 29 percent did nothing
- Almost 2-thirds of tweens have tried to help someone who is being bullied online
- Anti-bullying organizations and campaigns aim to educate and empower people
- Social media companies and elected officials should do more to prevent and protect kids online
Prevalence of Cyberbullying
21 percent of children have been cyberbullied
Sources: Statista.com, Pew Research Center, and Pew Research
Increased time spent on media consumption due to the coronavirus outbreak among internet users worldwide as of March 2020, by country
- Parenting Children in the Age of Screens
- Security.org
- The Best VPN of 2022
- Morning Consult
- YouTube, Netflix and Gaming: A Look at What Kids Are Doing With Their Increased Screen Time
- Statista
- Cyberbullying Research Center
- U.S. internet users who have experienced cyber bullying 2020
- Internet Online Harassment Severity
Higher Risk
Kids on YouTube are the most likely to be cyberbullied at 79 percent
- Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook follow at 69%, 64%, and 50 percent, respectively
- As a child’s age increased, so did the likelihood of cyberbullying
- Children from households with annual incomes of under $75,000 were twice as likely as those with incomes over $75K
Cyberbullying Impacts
Over half of teens felt angry after being cyberbullied
