Bullying Among Children and Youth in the Digital Age

Bullying among children and adolescents is no longer limited to the classroom or the basketball court; social media platforms have emerged as a new playground in which bullying occurs. Bullying behaviors are situated in a larger ecosystem, and this chapter examined the relationship between cyberbullying, traditional bullying, and associated outcomes. Cyberbullying and traditional bullying are not distinct phenomena, and cyberbullying should be viewed as an extension of traditional bullying. Critical child and parent variables related to cyberbullying were reviewed. Frequent and excessive Internet use alongside psychosocial difficulties were factors related to cyberbullying. Proactive aggression and endorsement of normative beliefs about aggression were also found to be risk factors. Additionally, different aspects of poor parent–child relationships have been shown to be closely related to cyberbullying as well. The chapter concludes with recommendations on prevention and intervention strategies. Empathy training and education, and targeting and modifying normative beliefs about aggression were highlighted and reviewed. The need to develop positive parent–child relationships as early as possible was also emphasized. For effective prevention and intervention efforts, these must be situated within a larger multilevel framework which targets different levels and addresses multiple contexts within which a child is embedded.