Preventing Cyberbullying Through Vicarious Supervision: Results from New Research
I’ve long been interested in the role of parents in preventing children from participating in problematic behaviors online. Parents should talk with their children about the responsible use of technology and allow access to apps and games at developmentally appropriate ages and in proper amounts. They should also utilize appropriate tools to restrict incidental access […]
Vicarious Supervision: Preventing Cyberbullying Through Positive Parent-Child Relationships
As youth face various Internet-based risks while interacting online, parents need theoretically grounded, evidence-based insights on strategies to prevent their child(ren) from participating in inappropriate behaviors. An approach that can facilitate better decision-making online, rooted in social bond and attachment theory, is a concept we term vicarious supervision. This perspective emphasizes the parent-child relationships in […]
The Role of Hope in Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention
Introduction: Research is clear that the cognitive-motivational internal asset of hope is significantly related to enhanced life satisfaction and psychological wellbeing. It has also shown promise in preventing participation in a variety of negative externalizing behaviors, especially antisociality, maladaptive coping, and various forms of aggression among young people. The current exploration evaluates the relationship between […]
Cyberbullying Rates Continue to Climb – Especially Among Boys
We recently collected another round of data from middle and high school students in across the United States. This sample includes about 3,500 English or Spanish speaking 13- to 17-year-olds. We used age, race, gender, and region quotas to match U.S. Census demographics as closely as possible. This is the fifth national survey we’ve conducted […]
2025 Cyberbullying Data
This study surveyed a nationally-representative sample of 3,466 English or Spanish-speaking middle and high school students between the ages of 13 and 17 in the United States. Data were collected in May of 2025. Click on the thumbnail images to enlarge. Cyberbullying Victimization. We define cyberbullying as: “Cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly and intentionally harasses, […]
Online Aggression and PTSD Symptoms: New Findings on Traumatic Outcomes
A couple of years ago, I explored the concerning link between bullying and trauma, and summarized the existing research that showed how repeated harassment involving peers at school should be considered an Adverse Childhood Experience that has the potential for long-term traumatic impacts on healthy youth development. At the time, I suggested that cyberbullying – […]
What is Cyberbullying?
“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 […]
Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Online Safety Glossary
In our Glossary below, we define the terms you need to know in the realm of social media, cyberbullying, and online safety, so that you are increasingly informed about technological jargon as you work with the youth under your care.(You can also download a distributable PDF of our Social Media, Cyberbullying, and Technology Terms Glossary). […]
Our Cyberbullying Scale: Two Decades of Measuring Online Aggression
When Sameer and I first became interested in studying cyberbullying back in 2001, we began our inquiry by simply speaking with folks. We talked with parents and teens, but also with teachers and other school staff, as well as law enforcement officers and anyone else who worked with young people. We wanted to know more […]
Metaverse Risks and Harms Among US youth: Experiences, Gender Differences, and Prevention and Response Measures
Research indicates that participation in metaverse environments and with virtual reality(VR) is increasing among younger populations, and that youth may be the primarydrivers of widespread adoption of these technologies. This will more readily happenif their experiences are safe, secure, and positive. We analyze data from a nationallyrepresentative sample of 5005, 13- to 17-year-olds in the […]
