Work

Youth, Social Media, and Cyberbullying Among Australian Youth: “Sick Friends”

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Cyberbullying is a relatively recent phenomenon that can have significant consequences for young people’s wellbeing due to the specific technological affordances of social media. To date, research into cyberbullying has been largely quantitative; thus, it often elides the complexity of the issue. Moreover, most studies have been “top down,” excluding young people’s views. Our qualitative research findings suggest that young people engage in cyberbullying to accrue social benefits over peers and to manage social pressures and anxiety, while cultural conventions in gender performance see girls engage differently in cyberbullying. We conclude that cyberbullying, like offline bullying, is a socially constructed behavior that provides both pleasure and pain.

Source: Social Media + Society

DOI: 10.1177/2056305115604848

Authors: Pam Nilan, Haley Burgess, Mitchell Hobbs, Steven Threadgold, Wendy Alexander

Institutions: University of Newcastle Australia, The University of Sydney

Language: English

Topic: Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,000