A Summary of Adolescent Cyberbullying

In an age of rapidly advancing technology, new circumstances are presented. Whether it is cutting-edge equipment that is reshaping the medical field or a fast-thinking computer to assist NASA scientists, there is a lot of good in the world of technology. Unfortunately, there is always another side to the positives, and technology is no exception. With the media right now, tailored methods to target individuals through hateful actions online are becoming more repetitive. In other words, cyberbullying, especially in adolescence, is now more common than before. Additionally, while many individuals are taught the basics around the idea of cyberbullying, the full picture is still blurry. Therefore, this review will unpack everything about this dire concept and provide the complete array of facts about what cyberbullying in adolescence truly is. 

Firstly, to understand why cyberbullying is so prevalent in adolescent technological interactions today, a timeline needs to be curated. The earliest stages of cyberbullying can be traced back to when personal computers were first purchased in the 1990s. While it was a completely different story from the cyberbullying today, the actions taken by certain individuals then still left a mark on others. When the world turned to mobile devices, though, the detrimental cases of cyberbullying began to appear. Starting in the mid-2000s, cases of teenagers killing themselves due to cyberbullying became more frequent. In two particular cases, one involving 18-year-old Jessica Logan and one involving 13-year-old Hope Sitwell, both girls’ nudes were sent to their schools via their boyfriends. This, unfortunately, results in their deaths; however, it also led to “lawsuits against the schools as well as new state cyberbullying laws” (The Bark Team).

To unpack the essential pieces of this dilemma, information about the 2010s will be limited to the last few years while also alluding to the 2020s. Since 2016, the Cyberbullying Research Center has witnessed a very consistent increase in the rates of cyberbullying. In 2016, about 33.6% of students claimed to be victims of cyberbullying; however, in 2025, 58.2% of students claimed to be victims. In all, there is an average of “about half (46%) of the students reported they have been the victim of cyberbullying at some point in their lifetime” (“Summary of Our Cyberbullying Research (2007-2025)”). While all this data is valid, it does raise new questions: What truly is cyberbullying, and why is it so detrimental? Why have the rates increased, and what can society do to prevent them from going any further?

Unlike other medical terminology, researchers have found a lot of controversy over defining cyberbullying. At its core, it channels the same definition as bullying with minor adjustments to the online world, saying, “‘an intentional act of aggression, carried out to harm another individual using electronic forms of contacts or devices’” (Kumar and Goldstein). Nonetheless, the issue researchers disagree upon relates to the expansion of cyberbullying to other virtual worlds: social media, text messaging, and streaming platforms. As a result of these discrepancies, organizations have found it quite difficult to define the scale to which cyberbullying has truly affected adolescents. 

Furthermore, no matter the conclusion about the scale of cyberbullying, researchers across the world have agreed upon one idea: cyberbullying is detrimental. The question, though, is why it affects adolescence to such an extreme level? Since adolescence is a period of identity growth and discovery, it is simultaneously a period of vulnerability. This susceptibility affects every individual differently; however, it is common enough to pose a threat to many adolescent members. In the case of cyberbullying, the effects are amplified due to the connection between such insecurities and the anonymous, relentless factors of the attacks. With the repetitive nature of cyberbullying, it is extremely difficult for adolescents themselves to prevent it from occurring. Unfortunately, this overwhelming partnership between external and internal factors can lead to many detrimental side effects: “the development of negative affective disorders, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and somatic symptoms” (Nixon).

As indicated earlier, cyberbullying has steadily increased as the development of technology has also increased. Frankly, this is the main reason why cyberbullying rates continue to grow. Over time, restrictions have become looser, social media access has become more extensive, and teenagers' usage of online sites has become more frequent. This all directly connects to the heart of the issue; nevertheless, there are steps society can take as a whole to alleviate cyberbullying stressors.

At the forefront of enhancing everyday life for adolescents who have experienced cyberbullying, being brave enough to report visible cyberbullying is crucial. Technology is easily reversible for most of society, so instead of letting individuals follow through with their actions, taking screenshots, video recordings, or even writing the facts can hold those accountable. By doing this, it allows adolescent members to feel supported and grounded by those around them. Additionally, many of the platforms on which adolescents are experiencing these negative interactions can only change their services when provided with information. So, if a parent or guardian wants real change to be made online, “[they] should contact the app or website directly about removing bullying-related posts[…]Some social media sites suspend perpetrators’ accounts” (Abramson). Lastly, even if someone is solely aware of the detrimental effects of cyberbullying, they too can be incredibly useful in spreading awareness and hope for the future.

In all, adolescent cyberbullying has nearly turned into a catastrophe; yet, there is no reason to give up hope. If everyone works together to make the digital world a safer place for adolescents, change can turn into reality. It is up to every individual to define what online etiquette and fairness are, so that every adolescent member feels comfortable and safe in this new realm of technology.