Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D.Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D.Cyberbullying Research CenterCyberbullying Research Center

Florida Atlantic UniversityFlorida Atlantic University

hinduja@fau.eduhinduja@fau.edu

Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying: What We Know, What We Know, What We Can DoWhat We Can Do

Fast Facts about Fast Facts about Cyberbullying Cyberbullying

- ““willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices”devices”

- Approximately 15-35% of students have been victimsApproximately 15-35% of students have been victims

- About 10-20% of students admit to cyberbullying About 10-20% of students admit to cyberbullying othersothers

- Girls as likely, if not more likely, to be involved as Girls as likely, if not more likely, to be involved as boysboys

- Involvement seems to peak in middle school (grades Involvement seems to peak in middle school (grades 6-8)6-8)

- Most victims of cyberbullying know, or at least think - Most victims of cyberbullying know, or at least think they know, who the cyberbully isthey know, who the cyberbully is

What the Research What the Research ShowsShows

– Physical ConsequencesPhysical Consequences•Headaches, sleeping difficulties, abdominal pain Headaches, sleeping difficulties, abdominal pain

– Emotional consequencesEmotional consequences•Anger, frustration, sadness, fearAnger, frustration, sadness, fear

– Psychological consequencesPsychological consequences• Self-esteem, suicidal ideationSelf-esteem, suicidal ideation

– Social ConsequencesSocial Consequences•Rejection, peer conflict, lack of social competenceRejection, peer conflict, lack of social competence

– Behavioral consequencesBehavioral consequences•Conduct problems, bullying, delinquency, violenceConduct problems, bullying, delinquency, violence• Substance use, academic struggles, overall difficultiesSubstance use, academic struggles, overall difficulties

Work to be Work to be Done…Done…

- AssessmentsAssessments- Information sharing/Workshops/AssembliesInformation sharing/Workshops/Assemblies- Social norming and climateSocial norming and climate- Peer mentoring programming, mobilizing Peer mentoring programming, mobilizing

youthyouth- Focus on special populationsFocus on special populations

- Gender identity/expression and sexual orientationGender identity/expression and sexual orientation- ASD youth (Asperger’s Syndrome)ASD youth (Asperger’s Syndrome)

- Research (quantitative and qualitative)Research (quantitative and qualitative)- Peers, scholastic achievementPeers, scholastic achievement- Electronic dating violence, sextingElectronic dating violence, sexting- Juvenile delinquency and school violenceJuvenile delinquency and school violence