Title: Experience of Youth on Cyberbullying.
Authors: Shreya Kotian, Pranali Londhe, Madhura Bijjargi.
Introduction:
As young people who have grown up in a digital era, they are often victims of cyberbullying, which can lead to psychological problems and a sense of disconnection from their peers. From social media platforms to online gaming communities, cyberbullying of young people makes it necessary to promote digital citizenship and encourage empathetic behavior online.
In today’s digital era, young people’s early immersion in technology and the internet brings both advantages and drawbacks, such as cyberbullying, where technology is used to harass others. This harmful behavior can lead to psychological distress, isolation, and even self-harm or suicide. To address cyberbullying, promoting digital citizenship is crucial, emphasizing responsible online behavior and privacy. Additionally, fostering empathy online by encouraging kindness and respect can create a supportive and compassionate online environment, reducing instances of cyberbullying and promoting healthier digital interactions.
Objective:
To understand the underlying issues of the experience of youth on cyberbullying.
Literature Review:
1) Sam, et al. (2018) states that the study investigates cyberbullying and online safety perceptions among Aboriginal adolescents, recognizing the historical impact of colonialism on their marginalized communities. While digital media offers benefits, widespread technology use has raised concerns about cyberbullying, often associated with adverse mental health outcomes. The research addresses the gap in cross-cultural cyberbullying research by focusing on Aboriginal youth, acknowledging their vulnerability to discrimination and online aggression due to minority status. Previous studies indicate links between discrimination and aggression, both offline and online, suggesting that Aboriginal youth may be more susceptible to cyberbullying experiences, including online hate speech. Despite a growing understanding of cyberbullying globally, there remains a lack of research on how Indigenous adolescents perceive online safety and navigate digital spaces.
Guided by general trends in cyberbullying research, the study highlights the escalating public health concern posed by cyberbullying, characterized by varying prevalence rates and unique risk factors. Longitudinal evidence underscores the importance of understanding attitudes, anonymity, and online behavior as predictors of cyberbullying. Coping strategies among adolescents include technical measures and seeking support from peers rather than adults. The study aims to shed light on Aboriginal youth’s perceptions of online safety behaviors and their experiences with cyberbullying, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of this multifaceted issue and raising awareness of diverse cybersafety challenges faced by Indigenous youth.
2) Kingsbury, & Arim. (2023) states that, Cybervictimization, often perpetrated through electronic communication media with the intent to harm, can lead to negative outcomes such as depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and suicidality. Despite its potential distressing nature, there is limited research on the differential experiences of cybervictimization among diverse groups of young people, including those based on gender identity, ethnicity, sexual attraction, and socioeconomic factors.
The study’s objectives are outlined as follows: (1) to describe the proportion of Canadian adolescents experiencing cybervictimization and its variations among subpopulations; (2) to explore interactive effects of sociodemographic predictors on cybervictimization; and (3) to investigate associations between cybervictimization and indicators of adolescent mental health, with a focus on potential differences among subpopulations. The research aims to contribute to the understanding of cybervictimization by addressing intersectionality and utilizing large, representative samples, shedding light on the nuanced experiences of diverse groups in the Canadian adolescent population.
Data Collection:
100 students were surveyed from college, likert scale were coded from 1 to 5 for each question mean, standard deviation, standard error, z value were found.
Data Analysis:
|
|
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q5 |
|
Mean |
3.66 |
3.94 |
3.40 |
3.29 |
3.58 |
|
S.D |
1.07 |
0.87 |
0.95 |
1.05 |
1.07 |
|
S.E |
0.85 |
0.69 |
0.76 |
0.83 |
0.85 |
|
Z value |
4.32 |
5.67 |
4.49 |
3.95 |
4.23 |
|
Results |
Agree |
Agree |
Agree |
Agree |
Agree |
Conclusions:
1) Students agree that yes cyberbullying harmed their mental health.
2) From the standpoint of the survey conducted students agree that cyberbullying is as harmful as traditional bullying.
3) Students, by and large, concur on that they have raised awareness against cyberbullying.
4) Our findings resonate with the prevailing views of the student body and yes students have reported cyberbullying.
5) Drawing upon the shared perspectives of the students, definitely yes confidence of students was affected due cyberbullying.
References:
1) Sam, J., M.Sc, Wisener, K., M.A., Schuitemaker, N., B.A., & Jarvis-Selinger, S. (2018). Aboriginal youth experiences with cyberbullying: A qualitative analysis of aboriginal e-mentoring BC. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 13(1), 5-19. doi:https://doi.org/10.18357/ijih.v13i1.30267
2) Kingsbury, M., & Arim, R. (2023). Cybervictimization and mental health among canadian youth. Health Reports, 34(9), 3-13. doi:https://doi.org/10.25318/82-003-X202300900001-eng
