{"id":48925,"date":"2022-02-16T13:23:22","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T18:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48925"},"modified":"2024-04-24T11:33:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T15:33:12","slug":"effects-of-cyberbullying-on-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/effects-of-cyberbullying-on-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"The effects of cyberbullying on youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the world becomes more connected through social media and other forms of electronic communication, the opportunity to connect and help others has grown. There\u2019s another side to this connectedness, however. Approximately <\/span>36.5% of teens and over 40% of adults<\/span><\/a> report they have been victimized by cyberbullying at least once in their lifetime.<\/span><\/p>\n

Parents, schools, and youth leaders are looking for ways to solve this problem. Knowing more about cyberbullying facts may help positively impact communities, both online and in real life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is cyberbullying?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cyberbullying is mean or aggressive behavior, similar to real-life bullying, that happens through electronic means. It can happen anywhere people communicate, such as on social media websites, in emails, or through messaging apps and text messages. Cyberbullying can happen through direct communication with the person being bullied or through indirect content that makes fun of or spreads malicious information about the person bullied.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is more common among adolescents and young adults; although, there are many documented cases of adults engaging in cyberbullying behavior. The definition of cyberbullying is not limited to anyone of a particular age, race, or gender.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do people cyberbully?<\/span><\/h3>\n

We don’t always know why someone would choose to cyberbully, but it can have similarities to bullying in real life. Bullies usually act out of revenge, anger, or desire for control. The internet is not the cause of cyberbullying, although an internet connection can make it easy for someone to cyberbully. Someone who wants to bully another person may find online communications offer them more anonymity and less accountability, which creates the perfect environment for bullying.<\/span><\/p>\n

How is cyberbullying different from other forms of bullying?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Like real-life bullying, cyberbullying includes intentional and continuous acts of harm. The goal is to affect the victim and create stress or a significant disruption in their daily lives. It differs from other forms of bullying in that it can often be done in secret, as part of private messages or online communities and groups where adults and other caregivers may not have access or be able to supervise.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: Cyberbullying statistics 2024<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

What does cyberbullying look like?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cyberbullying is often very obvious to the person bullied, but it may not be apparent to those outside their digital circle. Common examples of cyberbullying include:<\/span><\/p>\n