Cyberbullying in the United States

Abstract

Cyberbullying is recognized as a critical public health concern in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2009a, b; Srabstein et al. 2008; Ybarra and Mitchell 2004) and is broadly conceptualized as a digital version of peer-based aggression. Technological advances have significantly increased adolescents’ use of social media and online communication platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. According to Hinduja and Patchin (2009), cyberbullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phone, or other electronic devices” (p. 5). Definitions and forms of cyberbullying vary, but some common examples include flaming, harassment, stalking, impersonation, outing, trickery/phishing, as well as exclusion. Utilizing technology, the perpetrator can send or post humiliating or threatening messages or photos of the victim to a third party or to a public forum visited by many online participants (Hinduja and Patchin 2009).