UPDATED for 2023! This detailed guide is a nine-page summary – filled with as much useful information as possible – to equip educators, parents, and other youth-serving adults to spot cyberbullying, respond to it appropriately and meaningfully, and to prevent its future occurrence among those they care for. If you only have time to read…
Bullying that specifically targets youth and young adults based on their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression has been a problem for decades. The increased utilization of technology among youth (and, well, just about everyone) has resulted in bullying behaviors moving online. As a result, cyberbullying perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth…
This 8-page research brief provides educators, parents, and other youth serving adults information about the nature and extent of digital dating abuse among adolescents and how to best address it.
This regularly updated fact sheet provides a brief overview of the main elements of state sexting laws in the United States. More detailed information can be found here: https://cyberbullying.org/sexting-laws If you are aware of updates to the sexting laws in your state that are not included, please let us know. Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J.…
This Research Summary summarizes the current state of cyberbullying bills and laws across the United States. More detailed information can be found here: https://cyberbullying.org/bullying-laws Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2018). State Cyberbullying Laws: A Brief Review of State Cyberbullying Laws and Policies. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved [insert date], from https://cyberbullying.org/Bullying-and-Cyberbullying-Laws.pdf Download PDF
Most generally, the term bullying is equated to the concept of harassment, which is a form of unprovoked aggression often directed repeatedly toward another individual or group of individuals.[1] However, bullying tends to become more insidious as it continues over time and may be better equated to violence rather than harassment. Accordingly, Erling Roland states…
We’ve written a new bullying prevention book and it is now available! “Bullying Today: Bullet Points and Best Practices” was written for educators looking for concrete, comprehensive, and yet concise information to tackle bullying on campus and online. Before bullying surfaces in your school, you need to be ready. This book is organized so you…
This Fact Sheet provides a summary of important court cases and pending legislation that can help school districts evaluate and improve their current cyberbullying policies. Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J.W. (2015). Cyberbullying legislation and case law: Implications for school policy and practice. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved [insert date], from https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying-legal-issues.pdf Download PDF
“What is Cyberbullying?” is one of the most frequent questions we are asked because many know what it is when it happens, but have trouble wrapping succinct descriptive words around it. Formally, we define it as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices” (from Bullying Beyond…
The #1 cyberbullying prevention book just got better! Cyberbullying occurs when three components intersect: teens, technology, and trouble. This perfect storm of elements manifests as harassment, humiliation, and hate that can follow a child everywhere. Drawing on the authors’ own extensive research, this groundbreaking eye-opening resource incorporates the personal voices of youth affected by or…
Many well-meaning researchers and experts have written a number of books for adults that detail the nature and extent of cyberbullying, and offer suggestions for parents, educators, and other adults to effectively respond to the problem. In fact, Dr. Patchin and Dr. Hinduja have written three books just like this! Words Wound is different. This…
Whether you teach in the classroom, lead a youth group, or work with teens in another setting, Words Wound can help you guide your young people as they learn about cyberbullying, consider their own attitudes and actions (and those of others), and think about ways to delete cyberbullying and make kindness go viral. This leader’s…
We’ve been discussing the importance of school climate as it relates to bullying and cyberbullying quite a bit on this blog (see here and here for examples). Well, we just published a whole book on the topic! School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time is now in print and available…
Just as the previous generation was raised in front of televisions, adolescents at the turn of the 21st century are being raised in an internet-enabled world where blogs, social networking, and instant messaging are competing with face-to-face and telephone communication as the dominant means through which personal interaction takes place. Unfortunately, a small but growing…
Electronic dating violence is “emotional or psychological harm in a romantic relationship perpetrated through the use of computers, cell phones, or other electronic devices.” Research has also shown that teenagers are at a higher risk than adults when it comes to abuse by intimates. Since the vast, vast majority of teens have embraced the use…
Bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression has made headlines across the United States, and has been identified as a priority area for focus and attention by our federal government. This fact sheet examines data that specifically clarifies how bullying and cyberbullying are tied to sexual orientation, details civil rights implications for students, and…
One of greatest and fastest growing threats to our youth today is cyberbullying. With the explosion of technology and social networking sites on the Internet, bullying has moved from physical confrontation in the schoolyard to a more psychologically damaging experience. Cyberbullying is having a profound impact on students across the globe and educators are scrambling…
Kids have been bullying each other for generations. The latest generation, however, has been able to utilize technology to expand their reach and the extent of their harm. This phenomenon is being called cyberbullying, defined as: “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices” This White Paper…
This handout discusses issues that students should consider when creating offline or online content and then publishing it for others to see. It also provides guidelines that can inform how best to make and share ideas, opinions, and multi-media in a way that does not lead to negative repercussions. Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S.…
This Research Summary summarizes how youth are modifying their use of social networking sites as it relates to online privacy and the disclosure of personal information. Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2010). Cyberbullying research summary: Changes in Adolescent Online Social Networking Behaviors from 2006 to 2009. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved [insert date], from https://cyberbullying.org/changes_in_teens_online_social_networking_2006_2009.pdf Download…
This Research Summary explores the relationship between cyberbullying and suicidal ideation. Results suggest that victims of cyberbullying and those who cyberbully are at an elevated risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts. Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2010). Cyberbullying research summary: Cyberbullying and suicide. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved [insert date], from https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying_and_suicide_research_fact_sheet.pdf Download PDF
General Strain Theory argues that individuals who experience strain, and as a result of that strain feel angry or frustrated, are more at risk to engage in criminal or deviant behavior. Results indicated that youth who experienced strain or anger and frustration were more likely to bully others than those who had not experienced strain…
This Research Summary explores the relationship between cyberbullying and self-esteem among teens. Results suggest that students who experienced cyberbullying, both as a victim and an offender, had significantly lower self-esteem than those who had little or no experience with cyberbullying. Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2010). Cyberbullying research summary: Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem. Cyberbullying Research Center.…
This Research Summary summarizes the changes that are occurring related to youth use of MySpace across multiple years. Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2010). Cyberbullying research summary: Trends in Online Social Networking. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved [insert date], from https://cyberbullying.org/myspace_youth_research_over_time.pdf Download PDF