Surname 1

Name:

Instructor:

Course title:

Submission Date:

Cyberbullying on SNSs among adolescents

Introduction

Cyberbullying refers to the use of online platforms, that is, the internet, cell phones, or text

messages, to repeatedly harass, threaten, embarrass, or socially exclude someone of less social

power (Edwards et al., 71). The use of social media by adolescents has dramatically increased

and is associated with low self-esteem, high depression levels, substance abuse, suicidal

thoughts, and other behavioral problems (Memon, 384). Cyberbullying is more dangerous than

in-person bullying as it increases the risk of suicidality by a factor of 3.12, where person bullying

has an element of 2.16 (Memon, 384). Social media adverts expose adolescents to substance

abuse and sexual crimes. Bullying is a significant risk factor associated with adolescents' mental

illness. 

Online social networking sites provide an ever-present platform for communication.

However, these sites can provide opportunities for harassment and abuse. Most adolescents

spend a lot of time interacting on these online platforms. For instance, a survey done by the

Australia 2009 Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities showed that 79% of

children aged 5-14 years used the internet, from data collected on 2.7 million children (Kift et al.,

60). Some social networking sites such as Facebook allow people to publish and self-reflect

online with ease, without web programming skills. The level of openness on the information

exchanged can expose the online users' privacy to strangers.

 Surname 2

Literature Review on SNSs Cyberbullying Among Adolescents

Cyberbullying is a concept that has roots in traditional face-to-face bullying, and it seems not

to disappear any time soon (Edwards et al., 71). By 2013, almost 20% of youths were involved in

traditional bullying, while 15% in cyberbullying in the United States (Edwards et al., 71). In the

past ten years, minors' social media use has risen rapidly due to the increased use of smartphones

and access to the internet (Edwards et al., 71). A month the most commonly used social networks

include Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Google Plus, Vine, and Tumblr

(Memon, 384). The reports on adolescent suicide are shocking. According to the Centres for

Disease Control and Prevention in 2015, suicide has been the second leading cause for those

between fifteen to thirty-four years. It is also the third for adolescents between 10 to 14 years. 

In 1960, as per the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 2015 survey, the suicide rate

due to cyberbullying was 3.6 per 100,000 among teenagers between fifteen to nineteen years

(Goff, 2). This number increased from 3.6 to 11.1 in 1990. In the United States, by 1997, 9% of

suicides were committed by those aged nineteen or younger. Suicide rates decreased between

1990 to 2000 but increased between 2000 to 2010 (Goff, 3). Again, approximately every

adolescent or teenager commits suicide, and an estimated fifty other teenagers attempted to

commit suicide (Goff, 3). In 2013, 17% of students in grades nine to twelve had thought of

committing suicide (Goff, 3).

Cyberbullying is so rampant in the twenty-first century due to the increased number of

adolescents using social networking sites. The consequences are very extreme, and therefore it

should be stopped. As a result, a Korean singer and actress named Sulli Choi died in his own

house from comments on social media sites where he was insulted for her skinny body (Chan et

al., 575). Sulli got depressed from the hate comment she received on the social media sites,
 Surname 3

where they expected to get entertainment. Therefore, cyberbullying is more dangerous than

traditional bullying; Research has shown that cyberbullying results to mental health problems

such as depression, which may worsen, leading to suicide attempts (Chan et al., 575). Studies

have shown that males are more likely to be cyberbullied than females, but on the contrary,

females are likely to be the victims (Edwards et al., 75). Teenagers with more online social

interactions are more likely to be affected than those who spent little time.

The percentages of adolescents bullied on SNSs do not stop at 12% or 15%, but they are

much higher. According to Monica Anderson, 59% of United States teenagers have been bullied

and harassed online (Anderson, 87). 59% are not a small number; this means that more than half

of adolescents experienced cyberbullying. Moreover, 16% of them have been the target of

physical threats online (Anderson). Not to mention that the amount of cyberbullying among

adolescents varies on different SNSs: Facebook (37%), Instagram (42%), Snapchat (31%), and

Twitter (9%). Referring back to the statistics collected in Dr. Chan's and other contributors'

article, 54% of general Facebook users reported cyberbullying (Chan et al., 575).

Besides, according to Dr. Lynne Edwards, who authored several publications on youth and

cyber-crime, in 2013, 15% of students in grades 9-12 reported being victims of cyberbullying on

SNSs (Edwards, 75). The recent reports are slightly higher than the given data in 2013. Besides,

90% of teenagers say that online harassment is a big challenge. Almost less than half of this

number think it is adequately addressed by law at 44%, teachers at 42%, social networking sites

at 33%, and government officials at 20%. The percentages of adolescents getting bullied online

do not stop at those numbers. About 37% of students have reported having involved in

cyberbullying during their lifetime (Duarte et al., 40). Middle scholars and high scholars are the
 Surname 4

most well-known targets for cyberbullying because they are more active on SNSs. Besides, some

of them do not know how to deal with cyberbullying on their own.

In conclusion, it is noted that the more the time spent on online social networking sites, the

greater exposure to engagements in self-harming behaviors. It leads to increased psychological

distress and suicidal thoughts in depressed adolescents (Memon et al., 390). However, social

networking is an important communication medium, and the adolescents being involved in self-

harming behavior need support and psychological help. Youth have used social media to

communicate their thoughts and seek help, and if they get negative feedback, this can result in

self-harm activities. 

The increased continued use of online social networks has allowed health services and mental

health professionals to offer professional help to cyberbullied youths. Cyberbullying will

continue to be a severe issue to adolescents, especially given the adverse effects suffered.

Researches have shown that although whites are bullied more than blacks, the suicidal rates are

comparable (Edwards et al., 78). New technologies are being developed, such as the StopiT app,

that will enable cyberbullying victims to report the incidents to professionals. Education has a

critical role to both regulate and prevent cyberbullying. However, guidance is also needed for

these adolescents to have a clear view of the effects of social medial and cyberbullying

consequences.
 Surname 5

Works Cited

Anderson, Monica. "A majority of teens have experienced some form of cyberbullying." (2018):

84-110.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (2015). Violence Prevention-Fast Facts. Retrieved

on Dec. 08, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/fastfact.html.

Chan, Tommy KH, Christy MK Cheung, and Randy YM Wong. "Cyberbullying on social

networking sites: the crime opportunity and affordance perspectives." Journal of Management

Information Systems 36.2 (2019): 574-609.

Duarte, Cassandra, et al. "Correlation of minority status, cyberbullying, and mental health: A

cross-sectional study of 1031 adolescents." Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma 11.1

(2018): 39-48.

Edwards, Lynne, April Edwards Kontostathis, and Christina Fisher. "Cyberbullying,

race/ethnicity and mental health outcomes: A review of the literature." Media and

Communication 4.3 (2016): 71-78.

Goff, Doyle R. “Teenage Suicide.” Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health. (2019): 5-17.

Kift, Sally, Marilyn Campbell, and Des Butler. "Cyberbullying in social networking sites and

blogs: Legal issues for young people and schools." JL Inf. & Sci. 20 (2009): 60.

Lenhart, Amanda, et al. "Teens, social media & technology overview 2015." (2015): 45-56.

Memon, Aksha M., et al. "The role of online social networking on deliberate self-harm and

suicidality in adolescents: A systematized review of literature." Indian journal of

psychiatry 60.4 (2018): 384-392.