Beyond The Screen: Understanding And Preventing Cyberbullying In Education
Why We Should Care about Cyberbullying.
In September, Netflix released "Unknown Number: The High School Catfish," a documentary that delves into the dark side of digital deception. Without giving away the ending, its twisting storyline and portrayal of advanced technology in cyberbullying left me reflecting. The narrative took viewers from confusion to conviction and back again—ending in shock and prompting one lingering question: How prevalent is cyberbullying in the American education system?
According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, in 2023, almost one in five teens in the United States reported being victims of cyberbullying. Fast forward to 2025, “over 26% of American teenagers had experienced cyberbullying over the previous 30 days.” This high percentage has remained largely consistent despite increased attention to the matter and programs about digital safety. Unlike traditional bullying, which lets students escape at the end of the day, cyberbullying follows them home on their phones, gaming devices, and social media platforms.
In many cases, it exacerbates insecurities and feelings of loneliness and despair.
Understanding Cyberbullying and How it Manifests Today
The definition of cyberbullying is using digital technology (phones, social media, messaging apps, gaming chat rooms, etc.) to intimidate, humiliate, or otherwise harm others. While many of these attributes mirror in-person bullying, what makes cyberbullying distinct is anonymity and the ability to reach a large audience quickly.
A 2024 article in Cybersecurity (Oxford Academic) defines it as “aggressive, intentional acts carried out through electronic means repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend themselves.”
Listed below are a few forms of cyberbullying:
Harassment: Sending someone unwanted, aggressive messages repeatedly.
Outing and Doxing: Revealing personal or identifiable information without the individual's consent.
Impersonation: Creating fake accounts to post/message on someone else's behalf.
Exclusion: Deliberately excluding people from digital chats/groups.
Flaming: An online fight filled with offensive language and inflammatory responses.
From private texts to public chats on social media, recognizing how cyberbullying presents itself is the first step in preventing it.
The Statistics on Cyberbullying in the United States
The Cyberbullying Research Center's 2023 study shows that while verbal bullying continues to be popular, in some states, digital bullying exceeds that of face-to-face bullying among middle and high school students. The top cited platforms for bullying include Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat—the places where teens spend the most time online.
Similarly, recent national research shows how prevalent it is. According to Cyberbullying.org, girls and boys both experienced an equal amount of cyber victimization. In more recent data polls, however, boys appear to be targeted at a higher rate than girls by 10%. Unfortunately, they also appear to be the cyber aggressor at a rate of approximately 10% higher than girls.
Effects on Mental Health and Learning
Cyberbullying has many associated symptoms for those involved in or witnessing its aggressive acts. Victims report significant reductions in quality of life; offenders experience mental health issues that warrant intervention; schools must pay attention to academic performance and behavioral patterning. Students who are victims of cyberbullying often develop increased levels of depression, anxiety, even insomnia, and social isolation from other students.
A 2024 article in Computers in Human Behavior Reports notes that constant exposure can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). From an educational perspective, students who fall victim show a decrease in motivation. Whether teachers start noticing absenteeism or declining test scores—or classroom participation changes drastically—cyberbullying victims exhibit signs that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
Because cyberbullying can happen after hours—on various platforms that educators may not have access to—it's especially challenging for teachers to identify victimization in the early stages. Since victims often feel shame, in some cases, they also tend to try to hide that they are being victimized.
Risk Factors and Predictors of Cyberbullying Behavior
Understanding who is most vulnerable—and why—helps educators make sense of patterns before victimization occurs. A 2023 meta-analysis found several predictors and outcomes consistent across victimization studies:
Individuals with high social media use demonstrate engagement in perpetrating and being victimized.
Low empathy correlates with impulsive behaviors predicting engagement with cyberbullying actions.
Family conflict and poor school climate are contextual predictors for positive or negative engagement.
Peers significantly impact whether students are safe from teasing/humiliation (i.e., classmates standing up for someone versus encouraging bullying).
This information should help school networks and tutoring environments distinguish helpful prevention tips. It's not just about blocking content; it's about intervention before someone gets to that point.
Evidence-Based Interventions Against Cyberbullying
The good news? Evidence-based interventions work when conducted properly. A 2023 systematic review published in Frontiers in Public Health found that consistent victimization rates in schools decreased when proper training based on social-emotional learning (SEL), parent involvement, and educator workshops were held.
In addition, a meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023) assessed 45 intervention studies and concluded that programs were most successful when multi-component structures included online education and in-person workshops. The most relevant components assessed included improvements seen for empathy, self-regulation, responsible use of technology, and decreases in aggressive behavior online.
Intervention strategies include:
School policies that explicitly define what cyberbullying is, how it violates social policy within the school community, and what will happen if someone reports online trauma/lack of accountability sustained by a classmate or schoolmate.
Classes addressing digital citizenship—courses stressing empathy, respect for others, and the acknowledgement that online posts can last forever.
Involvement by parents, limiting screentime, and discussions with their children on how to maintain privacy and only engage with people they already know online.
Peer-led discussions on respectful digital practices to prevent bullying before it starts.
Surveys are distributed regularly by educators to assess students' perceptions of other students' online experiences.
A School's Role in Prevention
While tech companies have devised new ways to identify harmful content through networks and reporting measures, educators hold the key to sustainable prevention efforts. The most important steps being taken by schools to educate students on how to behave in the classroom and by defining rules of conduct while on campus are a good start. Teachers and parents also play an important role by noticing changes in student behavioral patterns. Community and human connection are the best lines of defense to protect students from cyberbullying.
A positive school climate—one where inclusion and respect are prioritized—is proven to be a buffer against cyberbullying. Whether a classroom or an online tutoring forum—it's vital for educators to normalize conversations about what constitutes digital ethics as much as they do physical safety drills or definitions about plagiarism.
Building emotional understanding with peers facilitates accountability for a new digital culture that needs re-establishing.
What Parents/Educators Can Do Now
Cyberbullying is not inevitable; it is preventable.
The first thing parents can do is establish device-free times during which they check in with their children about what they're doing online. Educators must use discussion times in class with a restorative process to ensure that teachers work with counselors for early detection before too many symptoms become apparent. Digital safety is paramount to academic success. Once children feel emotionally safe, they learn more effectively, engage in better online habits, and thrive in community.
At Swoon Learning, we understand the critical importance of a safe online environment, especially since the majority of our academic coaching sessions are conducted virtually. We take cyberbullying very seriously and are committed to fostering a supportive and respectful digital community for all our students. If you're wondering if online academic coaching is right for your child, we invite you to sign up for a FREE 30-minute discovery call with one of our Academic Coaching Directors today.
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