“Traditional” bullying like name-calling and exclusion still far outstrips cyber-bullying among teens – despite the huge popularity of social media, researchers have claimed.
A study published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal found that only 1% are victims of just cyber-bullying, compared to 27% who are just abused in person.
“Despite common perceptions and the growth of the online world for teenagers, our study finds that cyberbullying, on its own, is relatively rare, with face-to-face bullying remaining most common among teenagers,” lead author Dr Andrew Przybylski said.
“Cyberbullying is best understood as a new avenue to victimise those already being bullied in traditional ways, rather than a way to pick on new victims.”
Experts have now called for the two forms of abuse to be tackled together to best help young people.
“Initiatives that help teenagers become resilient in everyday and online contexts will be important if we are to help them overcome the negative mental health impacts bullying may have, such as an increased risk of poor mental well-being and lower life satisfaction,” Bowes said.
– Jasmin Gray
Read More: ‘Traditional’ Bullying Still Far Outstrips Online Abuse Among Teens
Image by Morgan Basham from Unsplash
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