Suggested citation: Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2024). Cyberbullying Facts. Cyberbullying Research Center. https://cyberbullying.org/facts
Cyberbullying Facts: Summarizing What is Currently Known
Since 2002, we have surveyed over 35,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in sixteen different studies throughout the United States. The first two studies were online exploratory samples used to obtain a general understanding of the problem. As such, the numbers obtained are higher than average and not representative because they only include online teens who volunteered to participate. Our thirteen most recent studies, however, have all been random samples of known populations, so we can be fairly confident in the reliability and validity of the data obtained (click here for more information about the methodology). Overall, about 30% of the teens we have surveyed over the last twelve studies have told us that they have been cyberbullied at some point in their lifetimes. About 13% said they were cyberbullied in the 30 days preceding the survey. Similarly, about 15% of those who we surveyed admitted that they had cyberbullied others at some point in their lifetimes (about 6% in the most recent 30 days). In 2020 we surveyed 1,034 tweens (9-12 year-olds) across the United States and found that about 15% of them had been cyberbullied at some point in their lifetimes (about 3% had cyberbullied others). More detailed information about our various studies involving teens (12- to 17-year-olds) can be found here. Our recent study findings involving tweens (9- to 12-year-olds) can be found here.
Cyberbullying Facts: Generalizations
A couple of other broad generalizations can be made about cyberbullying, based on recent research:
– Adolescent girls are just as likely, if not more likely than boys to experience cyberbullying (as a victim and offender) (Floros et al., 2013; Kowalski et al., 2008; Hinduja & Patchin, 2009; Schneider et al., 2012)
– Cyberbullying is related to low self-esteem, suicidal ideation, anger, frustration, and a variety of other emotional and psychological problems (Brighi et al., 2012; Hinduja & Patchin, 2010; Hinduja & Patchin, 2019; Kowalski & Limber, 2013; Patchin & Hinduja, 2010; Wang, Nansel, & Iannotti, 2011)
– Cyberbullying is related to other issues in the ‘real world’ including school problems, anti-social behavior, substance use, and delinquency (Hinduja & Patchin, 2007; Hinduja & Patchin, 2008; Kowalski & Limber, 2013)
– Traditional bullying is still more common than cyberbullying (Lenhart, 2007; Smith et al., 2008; Wang, Nansel, & Iannotti, 2011)
– Traditional bullying and cyberbullying are closely related: those who are bullied at school are bullied online and those who bully at school bully online (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009; Kowalski & Limber, 2013; Ybarra, Diener-West, & Leaf, 2007).
Cyberbullying Facts: Trends
There are only three studies that we are aware of that have explored cyberbullying experiences of students across the United States over time. The first analysis have been conducted by our friends at the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Examining the three waves of the Youth Internet Safety Survey (2000, 2005, 2010), they find a slight increase in cyberbullying behaviors over that time period (from 6% to 9% to 11%).
More recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conduct their biennial survey of students across the U.S. in their Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). This survey has long asked about bullying at school but in 2011 they added a question about “electronic” bullying. In 2023 (the most recent year available), 16% of students reported that they were bullied electronically, compared to 15.9% in 2021.
Finally, the School Crime Supplement (SCS) of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) also surveys students every other year about victimization at school (and online bullying). This source observed a slight increase from 2009 to 2011 (from 6.2% to 9%), but the rate also decreased to 6.7% in 2013. In 2015, researchers changed the way they measured cyberbullying–asked as a subset of bullying–which means the numbers cannot be directly compared to previous years. In 2022 21.6% of the 19.2% of students who were bullied said they had been bullied “online or by text.” This is an increase from the 15.8% who reported being bullied online or by text in the previous survey, administered in 2019.
Our research has shown a steady increase over time, but again it is problematic to directly compare our studies for a variety of reasons. One thing is for certain: cyberbullying is impacting a number of middle and high school students each year, and more can be done to prevent that.
Cyberbullying Prevalence Rates Over Time
| Patchin & Hinduja (previous 30 days) | Crimes Against Children Research Center | Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System | NCVS School Crime Supplement | |
| 2000 | 6.0% | |||
| 2001 | ||||
| 2002 | ||||
| 2003 | ||||
| 2004 | 30.5% | |||
| 2005 | 9.0% | |||
| 2006 | ||||
| 2007 | 10.4% | |||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2009 | 8.3%; 7.0% | 6.2% | ||
| 2010 | 8.7%; 7.5% | 11.0% | ||
| 2011 | 7.3% | 16.2% | 9.0% | |
| 2012 | ||||
| 2013 | 8.1% | 14.8% | 6.7% | |
| 2014 | 12.2% | |||
| 2015 | 15.0% | 15.5% | 11.5%* | |
| 2016 | 16.5% | |||
| 2017 | 14.9% | 15.3%* | ||
| 2018 | ||||
| 2019 | 17.4% | 15.7% | 15.8%* | |
| 2020 | ||||
| 2021 | 23.2% | 15.9% | ||
| 2022 | 21.6%* | |||
| 2023 | 26.5% | 16% |
So it is difficult from just looking at these few studies to determine if rates of cyberbullying is increasing or decreasing. Every study defines and measures cyberbullying differently and uses different response windows (we ask about experiences in their lifetime and last 30 days while the NCVS asks about what happened in the last year). We need to collect additional data points over time using consistent measures.
Cyberbullying Facts: References
Brighi, A., Melotti, G., Guarini, A., Genta, M. L., Ortega, R., Mora-Merchán, J., Smith, P. K. and Thompson, F. (2012). Self-Esteem and Loneliness in Relation to Cyberbullying in Three European Countries, in Cyberbullying in the Global Playground: Research from International Perspectives (eds Q. Li, D. Cross and P. K. Smith), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK.
Floros, G.D., Simos, K. E., Fisoun, V., Dafouli, E., and Geroukalis, D. (2013). Adolescent online cyberbullying in Greece: The impact of parental online security practices, bonding, and online impulsiveness. Journal of School Health, 83(6), 445-453.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2007). Offline consequences of online victimization: School violence and delinquency. Journal of School Violence, 6(3), 89-112.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2008). Cyberbullying: An exploratory analysis of factors related to offending and victimization. Deviant Behavior, 29(2), 129-156.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2009). Bullying beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2010). Bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Archives of Suicide Research, 14(3), 206-221.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2012). Cyberbullying: Neither an Epidemic Nor a Rarity. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9(5), 539-543.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2019). Connecting Adolescent Suicide to the Severity of Bullying and Cyberbullying. Journal of School Violence, 18(3), 333-346.
Kowalski, R. M. & Limber, S. P. (2013). Psychological, Physical, and Academic Correlates of Cyberbullying and Traditional Bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(1), S13-S20.
Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P. & Agatston, P.W. (2008). Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Lenhart, A. (2007). Cyberbullying and Online Teens. Pew Internet & American Life Project, June
27. (http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/216/report_display.asp).
NCVS School Crime Supplement (2019). https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2022/2022031.pdf
Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2010). Cyberbullying and self-esteem. Journal of School Health, 80(12), 614-621.
Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2013). Cyberbullying among Adolescents: Implications for Empirical Research. Journal of Adolescent Health 53(4), 431-432.
Schneider, S.K., O’Donnell, L, Stueve, A., and Coulter, R.W.S. (2012). Cyberbullying, school bullying, and psychological distress: A regional census of high school students. American Journal of Public Health, 102(1), 171-177.
Smith, P. K., Mahdavi, J., Carvalho, M., Fisher, S., Russell, S., and Tippett, N. (2008). Cyberbullying: its nature and impact in secondary school pupils. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 49(4): 376–385.
Wang, J., Nansel, T. R., & Iannotti, R. J. (2011). Cyber Bullying and Traditional Bullying: Differential Association with Depression. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48(4): 415–417.
Ybarra, M., Diener-West, M., & Leaf, P. J. (2007). Examining the Overlap in Internet Harassment and School Bullying: Implications for School Intervention. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41: S42–S50.
Ybarra, M. L., Espelage, D. L., & Mitchell, K. J. (2007). The Co-occurrence of Internet Harassment and Unwanted Sexual Solicitation Victimization and Perpetration: Associations with Psychosocial Indicators, Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, S31-S41.
i learned that adolescent girls are just as likely, if not more likely than girls to experience cyber bullied
some cyber bulling stories are just too sad
sooooooo saaaaad
i think that people who get cyberbullied get suicidal thoughts, start an eating disorder, do self-harm, become depressed, and sometimes commit suicide. we can prevent these terrible things by watching who we follow on the internet, who are friends are, and what social medias we use.
I definentaly agree with you its true😢😢
IT IS NOT A CYCLE LIKE THAT!!!! PLEASE GO DO RESEARCH ON THE CAUSE OF MENTAL ILLNESSES, THEN COME BACK AND RESPOND WITH SOMETHING LESS STUPID
thnx <3
Come on, it's her opinion/view. Can you be a little less judgemental? This is an article on Cyberbullying, don't be one yourself.
wow your a jerk i'm positively sure that's how most MENTAL ILLNESSES happen is because of IDIOT people treating them like crap and it also dosen't help if people keep making fun of eachother just because of their own Damn insecurites an example "oh yeah your fat" or "just go kill yourself no one and nothing will miss you" and how about this one oh boy this one is a popular one but stupid "your just cutting BECAUSE your a self seeking whore" all of those things they start to believe because people keep shoving it in their faces. SO no she dosen't have to do research because you Said so and here's a fun fact what she said isn't STUPID you are because you DIDN'T do the research so there you have it bree . Your Friend Anonymous
I do not believe calling someone a "jerk" contributes to stoping cyberbullying. Your friend
-That One Unknown Person
As to someone who has gone through Cyberbullying, its best to ignore them and move on. You are beautiful just the way you are, even though its hard to believe it.
People do get problems like anorexia nervosa(an eating disorder in which the person(s) affected starve themselves) from cyberbullying, so please do your research before rudely calling someone out and calling them stupid on a cyberbullying research site of all places…
-An Anonymous Person
there are lots of people that try to commit suicide from cyber bullying like the movie cyberbully
13% of children consider suicide and the depression mostly comes from divorces, sexual assault, and substance abuse
I know some stories about people who committed suicide because of cyberbullying and its sad because I feel very,very sad for those people who committed suicide and its very sad.😢😢😢😢😢😢
I know exactly how you feel.
Its sad for those who committed suicide😢😢😢
yeah its really sad especially if it turns out to be your best friends. it sucks but it gets better over time.
if you know someone who is being bullied tell someone but instead they just keep it going and going
I'm sorry but, this does not make sense to me
————————> "but instead they just keep it going and going"
I agree that it is very sad and disturbing
#lets stop cyber-bullying
It is so sad that kids commit suicide they don't deserve that. That isn't right!!!!!!
i learned that bullying can affect students and also it can hurt them physically and emotionally
I think it's really upsetting knowing that people cyberbully and people don't do anything about it
We need to stop this
CyberBullying doesn't just happen to Kids. Adults, people you know will start out texting you with normal conversations then sending pictures of all sorts, personal, cartoons of all types, avitars of themselves, scriptures of all sorts an when it never ends, you ask them to stop and then all of a sudden you need god and then a whole new set of all the above starts with a spiritual twist. Everytime
you pick up you phone there's a spiritual reason
why you don't like the text anymore when all you
want them to do is stop.
n
text why you don't want them sending them
it makes me angry when someone kills themselfs
Some of these kids think that they are all mighty and powerfull while they are on Instagram or whatever social media they use. Now there are some who may say it to your face but most hide and only say things behind there phones or electronic devices. I was asked to write a essay on this, but the facts are there people look. This is a waste of people's time and can even cause death. It's a shame what kids and even adults to today. If your gonna say something like that say it to their face. Or grow up and be quiet.
I hate cyber bullying because its bad by the way im 7 years odl
jk im 12 but still i dont like cyberbullying its really bad and idk y people do it
to make help themselves feel better
also I wouldn't leak your age onto the internet
Yeah not a good thing to say your age, no offense
listen guys I've been bullied a lot and i have cyber bullied and the movie is so sad i wonder how someone can hack into a device and on to someones profile. That is just stupid who would do such a thing.
I never got cyberbullied
Same
Cyberbullying is a way for kids to relieve stress. It is the parents and the governments fault.
Go on Netflix and watch Cyberbully, it is a sad movie, but entertaining. comment me if you watched it or if you are going to watch it!!!!
its on youtube also
dont you mean you seen cyberbullying the movie
I have been bullied to the point where I became suicidal, and now I get the help that I needed
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
u think so?
Cyber bulling is a very sad thing i have been bullied all my life and its not fun. I have had bad thoughts about myself and its not a good feeling.
# lets stop CYBERBULyLING
Cyber bulling is a very sad thing i have been bullied all my life and its not fun. I have had bad thoughts about myself and its not a good feeling.
# lets stop CYBERBULyLING
WE can STOP this all we have to do is try
I think people comitting suicide is really sad. I have been bullied to the point where I had those dark thoughts but luckily I got the help I needed. With the rise of technology, bullying became easier for people. It's easy to hide behind a computer or phone and bully someone instead of in their face. This only makes things worse! People should not engage in antisocial behaviors and degrade people online. It is so sad to know young people do this the most, its no wonder many young girls have self-esteem issues!
uhmm excuse me but young boys have self-esteem issues to, it isn't always just girls.
Uhhmm. But most of the people who have a self-esteem issue are girls. Maybe that's what she meant
Uhmm… What about trust issues? I'm sure people have gained trust issues from cyberbullying, I know I've gained trust issues but I don't believe they are from being cyberbullied… actually I'm not sure if I've been cyberbullied (can't remember), though I do know that past events have caused my trust issues…
Has it ever occurred to you that girls seem to have greater self-esteem issues because boys can’t say anything because of stereotyping that if a man doesn’t ask for help, but if you do you are a wussy?
Ya it sad, and the people doing the bulling think its funny to them which is not right.
what makes me so sad is that no one wants to stand up for said person
What i think is they need to grow up and truthfully get a life (in a nice way) because no one wants there reputation to be a jerk or a
bully.
am i right
y can't people just stop being butts to people cuz everyone is different and that is something to celebrate not to be mean about. i am a friend, a sister and, a babysitter so i can't stand if all of my family and friends did that to themselves
3 million kids per month are absent from school due to bullying. 20% of kids cyberbullied think about suicide, and 1 in 10 attempt it. 4500 kids commit suicide each year. Suicide is the No. 3 killer of teens in the US.
I don't know why people bully so much. Is it because that person has a lot of stuff that you don't have. Man its not right just let that person be if they want to do the stuff that they want to do just let them be it none of your business to make them feel bad.
this is atrocious.. its gotta come to a stop. I personally have never been cyberbullied but I have been verbally bullied. Cyberbullying isn't right and to think that the people that its coming from think its funny to see someone upset and depressed its just sad.
btw I'm only 13
sTOP tHE hATE, }:-[
I also have Benin cyberbullied but I got through it it needs to stop
Cyberbullying is not good !!!!
Dont cyber bully it is not cool you might take a life away.
cyber bullying is fun (sarcastic) … no matter how hard we try to say "stop bullying" over and over again.. it will always go on and on, i have been bullied well until now .. cyberbullying, traditional bullying .. i cut my wrists everynight and hide it everytime i'm in school.. i always smile when someone is around me but cry at night. i don't have friends (the kids that smiles at me are not considered as friends .. i don't even know them) i even came to the point where i was about to hang my neck in my room, i wrote a letter but i realized .. yes, bullying, cyberbullying or whatever can give depression, anxiety, fear, low self-esteem but that doesn't mean we don't know how to stand up and control ourselves to let our braveness come out of its hiding place. We may not be perfect but we are still humans like those persons who bully us. We are strong, don't think you're weakness takes over your mind.
i am so sorry
bullying among teens is now very rampant on social media nowadys , for it is so easy for someone to degrade a victim online for they can do it annonomously . lets stop cyberbullying instead lets sp[read good vibes on on social media. Afterall, social media is created to make circle of friends not to badmouth and hurt someone else
honestly, playing on games (I play on Xbox ONE) has helped me create a circle of online friends, it's help me.
the bullying that goes on, in this site is just not funny. someone on there has real hate for me and abuses me but if I fight back they sure can't hack that. please stop the bullying on these sites. its causing illness and upset when people are attacking cancer patients and welfare disability ill people and so on. and there is clearly one dirty stalker troll on there from fast forward tv show called magda she does nothing but abuse over her fat son.
I agree, cyberbullying is bad and it always will be, and nothing is going to change that. I have experienced one of my friends go through cyberbullying and it wasn't a good thing to experience. It is like they think it is ok to do this because they are behind a screen and you and nobody else can get to them when they are doing this. Whoever is being bullied or cyber bullied, coming from my experience with kids bullying me and my friends, just don't listen to them. also, just know that there are people here that care about you and that you are not going to go through this alone. also, just incase you think about hurting your self, don't do it! Don't do it because it is not good and even though you think nobody cares about you, they do so just stop and think about that before you do anything. #stopbullyingandcyberbullying #believeinyourself
You are perfect in every single way! Help me and others stop bullying at mine and your school. We can do it if we work together.
Its really sad how Trolls want to make people suicide
Can someone put the depression rate from cyber bulling for the people doing school work, i think it would be helpful for a lot kids that have projects.
people should not be bullied any way and any how.
I was bullied all up until 8th grade and i hated it….
I was bullied all up until 8th grade n i hated it i was tempting to have suicide on my mind….
just saying its pretty easy to block people who bully you #common sense.
Why cant people learn to just ignore others?I mean I do it and yes i have dealt with bullies i just learned to use common sense and block them or leave the chat.
come on just ignore and block, its rlly not that hard, its actually pretty easy, just dont give them ammo (JUST LEARN NOT TO BE STUPID ABOUT IT) JUST BLOCK
as a teen that has had suicidal thoughts (and i probably still do) i looked at some of this page then went down to the comments, its nice to see that people are openly against bullying even if some people are victims of bullying, im not quite yet sure why i may still be suicidal but if you want to know why i have yet to have done it… it is because i have thought of who all may be devastated by my actions, what i may miss, and how it would change anything. (i came to this site for a essay i have to write in a class, i dont check my email much)
Life gets better, it really does. You will hopefully realize that your future can be really bright, and that there will always be haters, and that people can be there for you and help you through difficult seasons if you let them. It gets better. Figure out what you love, what you enjoy, what makes you happy, and go after those things. We are in your corner. Really.
I already realize that but right know my problem mainly is that I am unsure of what the thoughts in the back of my head are. I never have truly had friends, only recently I have figured out who near me I might be able to trust. My problem with trust is that i don't even really trust myself, how could one trust some one if they don't trust themselves? As you can tell I do stay up at night which gives me time to think, I truly do over think some things. I use video games to escape my thoughts, sometimes certain parts of songs get stuck in my head. If you want an example of part of a song i could easily give you the 9 words that got stuck on repeat in my head first. For now here's something my own head has come up with: death is fun, death is life, fun will die, but so will life. That is something I can't manage to get out of my head. I will openly admit that I have memories I can't seem to let go of although I need to. Yet I tell some people "Don't dwell on the past" I suppose not dwelling could've lead to my state…
Does any one know what time zone this sites comments go by?
They go by GMT. Thanks for asking.
Thanks, I may try to get on at the same time each day/getting on this site may become something I do daily if possible.
I noticed the time difference between my laptop and the times of the comments I made and wondered about the possibility of the time zones being different.
By the way I'm in CTZ.
everyone needs to calm down, i've had a hard time with this stuff to i just learn to ignore most of the time, its easy
Your right it is easy to ignore things like these but some people are either not used to it or are too sensitive because they have had a incredibly shielded life. I assume you realize this but you must remember it.
I believe that cyberbullying is a result of something that happened to the culprit that made them upset about themselves and they are jealous that other people feel better about themselves. Don't get me wrong… cyberbullying is wrong on all levels but i believe that we need to reach out and to the victimizers and find out why they acted out to their peers.
I believe that cyberbullying is a result of something that happened to the culprit that made them upset about themselves and they are jealous that other people feel better about themselves. Don't get me wrong… it is wrong on all levels but i believe that we need to reach out and to the victimizers and find out why they acted out to their peers.
coming from someone has tried killing themselves its really had to wake up and get out of bed but you just don't want to go throw and you know i have had some days were i can get out of bed to go pee because i was to depressed to get up its hard and i want to say that it will get better i know there mite be some bad day but that's just one or two days it will get better.
it is sad to say people kill themself because of cyber bullying or even bullying. But i promise it will get better! It just takes some time to recover from something like this. As much as you want to you have to know that people are there for you and always will. I PROMISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately some of us get better then something comes along and messes up our lives but we have to continue to push through it.
Hi im kinda late to the party, but Cyber Bullying isn’t just thing you can wash away. its something that grows inside you until you decide enough and you either kill your self, cut, or get help. 2/3 of those options are bad, and being some one who has tried to kill themselves 5 times, its rough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azRl1dI-Cts here. watch this to get a real idea of what its like to be bullied and almost committing something Horrendous.
Is telling the truth on social media be counted as a cyber bullying? when you just want to tell your side of story to stop those very conclusive individuals whose also attacking you with posts based on false predicaments.
Yeah, its both not one or the other. All people can have self-esteem issues.
When was the article written? Who was it written by?
Hi Max, it was written by Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin and was most recently updated in April of 2021. Thanks for your interest.
Not only does cyberbullying happen to children but even to adults. 🙁
Use suicide or self-harm threat to pressured to dating (or other unwanted behavior) should also count as cyberbullying. For someone who is doing this because of a mental illness/personality disorder, they need professional help, not an impossible person.
It’s just as harmful as the other types bullying and may turn victims into abusive (They may think that “suicidal people are socially harmful that need to be eliminated” and abuse those people).