How Common Is Cyberbullying?

Research studies have produced different answers to this question. Rates of cyberbullying vary depending on the definition of cyberbullying that is used, the ages and characteristics of children surveyed, and the time frame involved (Kowalski & Limber, under review).

• In a Cox Communications (2009) survey 13-18 year-olds were asked how often they had ever been involved in cyberbullying.
  • 15% said they had been cyberbullied online
  • 10% had been cyberbullied by cell phone
  • 7% said they had cyberbullied another person online
  • 5% had cyberbullied another person by cell phone
• A study by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids (2006) investigated how often children (6-11 year-olds) and teens (12-17-year-olds) had been cyberbullied during the previous year. One-third of teens and one-sixth of the children reported that someone said threatening or embarrassing things about them online.
• In a survey of middle school students, Hinduja and Patchin (2009) found that 9% had been cyberbullied in the last 30 days, and 17% had been cyberbullied during their lifetime; 8% had cyberbullied others in the last 30 days and 18% had done so during their lifetime.
• In a study by Kowalski and Limber (2007) with students in grades 6-8, 18% said they had been cyberbullied at least once in the last couple of months and 6% said it had happened two or more times; 11% had cyberbullied others at least once in the last couple of months, and 2% said they had done it two or more times.

Who Is Involved in Cyberbullying?

Although some studies have found that girls are more involved in cyberbullying than boys (Cox Communications, 2009; Kowalski & Limber, 2007; Pew Internet & American Family Life Project, 2007), others have found similar rates among boys and girls (Hinduja & Patchin, 2008).

When middle school students were asked about the identity of the person who cyberbullied them:

• 52% identified another student at school
• 36% said they had been cyberbullied by a friend
• 13% had been cyberbullied by a sister or brother
• 48% did not know who had cyberbullied them (Kowalski et al., 2008)

Children and youth who are involved in cyberbullying are also quite likely to be involved in "traditional" forms of bullying. In a study of middle school students (Limber & Agatston, 2008), 61% of cyber "victims" also reported being victims of "traditional" bullying; 55% of cyber "bullies" also said they had bullied others in "traditional ways." Cyber "bully/victims" (who cyberbully others and also are cyberbullied) were heavily involved in "traditional" forms of bullying—64% had been bullied and 66% had bullied others.

Where Are Children Cyberbullied?

Most cyberbullying is done away from school (Dehue et al., 2008; Smith et al., 2008), although more cyberbullying may occur during school than many adults realize. For example, in a telephone survey of preteens (6-11-year-olds) and teens (12-17-year-olds) (Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 2006):

• 45% of preteens and 30% of teens who had been cyberbullied received the messages while at school.
• 44% of preteens and 70% of teens who had been cyberbullied received the messages at home.
• 34% of preteens and 25% of teens who had been cyberbullied received the messages while at a friend's house.

Children's Reactions to Cyberbullying

Most teens (60% of boys and 70% of girls) see online bullying as a serious problem and feel that there should be stricter rules about it (70% of boys and 80% of girls) (Cox Communications, 2009).

Many children and teens who are cyberbullied fail to report it to parents or adults at school (Agatston et al., 2007; Dehue et al., 2008; Smith et al., 2008). According to a telephone survey of preteens and teens (Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 2006):

• 51% of preteens but only 35% of teens who had been cyberbullied had told their parents about their experience.
• 27% of preteens and only 9% of teens who had been cyberbullied had told a teacher.
• 44% of preteens and 72% of teens who had been cyberbullied had told a friend.
• 31% of preteens and 35% of teens who had been cyberbullied had told a sibling.
• 16% or preteens and teens who had been cyberbullied had told no one.

How Does Cyberbullying Affect Children?

Little research has explored the possible effects of cyberbullying on children. When students are asked how they believe cyberbullying affected them, they indicate that it made them sad and unwilling to attend school (Raskauskas & Stoltz, 2007).

A survey of middle and high school students found that children who were cyber "bully/victims" (had cyberbullied others and also had been cyberbullied) had the highest rates of anxiety, depression and school absences compared to cyber "bullies", cyber "victims" and children who weren't involved in cyberbullying. By contrast, children not at all involved in cyberbullying had the highest self-esteem and grades and the fewest symptoms of health problems (Kowalski & Limber, under review).

How Does Cyberbullying Differ From Other Traditional Forms of Bullying?

Research and experience suggest that cyberbullying may differ from more "traditional" forms of bullying in a number of ways (Kowalski et al., 2008; Slonje & Smith, 2008;, 2005), including:

• Cyberbullying can occur any time of the day or night.
• Cyberbullying messages and images can be distributed quickly to a very wide audience.