For today’s teens, bullying doesn’t stop when the school day ends. Through social media, text messages, online gaming, and messaging apps, cyberbullying can follow young people wherever they go. Unlike traditional bullying, harmful messages, rumors, and harassment can spread quickly online and remain visible long after they are posted.
The prevalence of cyberbullying continues to raise concerns among educators and parents. Recent research from the Cyberbullying Research Center found that approximately 26.5% of U.S. teens ages 13–17 reported being cyberbullied in 2023, while nearly half of teens say they have experienced some form of cyberbullying at some point in their lives (Hinduja & Patchin, 2023).
As technology becomes an increasingly important part of daily life, understanding the effects of cyberbullying is essential for schools, families, and youth-serving organizations.
Emotional and Mental Health Effects
One of the most significant consequences of cyberbullying is its impact on mental health.
Teens who experience cyberbullying may struggle with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of isolation
- Increased stress
- Fear and insecurity
Research from the CDC found that teenagers who experienced bullying were more than twice as likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those who had not been bullied (CDC, 2024). Among teens who were bullied, 29.8% reported anxiety symptoms and 28.5% reported depression symptoms (Ng et al., 2024).
Because online harassment can occur 24 hours a day and reach large audiences almost instantly, many victims feel there is no escape. In some cases, repeated cyberbullying can lead to long-term emotional distress and trauma. Recent research suggests cyberbullying can contribute to symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress, highlighting the need for early intervention and support (Kowalski et al., 2024).
Cyberbullying Statistics
- More than half (54.6%) of U.S. teens report experiencing cyberbullying at some point in their lifetime (Hinduja & Patchin, 2023).
- Girls are more likely than boys to be the victim of cyberbullying (Hinduja & Patchin, 2023).
- Cyberbullying rates have steadily increased over the last decade, rising from 33.6% in 2016 to 58.2% in 2025 (Hinduja & Patchin, 2023).
- Teens who experience bullying are twice as likely to report anxiety symptoms (29.8% vs. 14.5%) and depression symptoms (28.5% vs. 12.1%) (Haile et al., 2024).
The Scope of the Problem
Cyberbullying is not limited to the United States. A 2024 World Health Organization study involving more than 279,000 young people across 44 countries found that approximately one in six adolescents reported experiencing cyberbullying (Cosma et al., 2024). Researchers also noted that cyberbullying rates have increased alongside the growing digitalization of young people’s lives.
These findings reinforce the importance of equipping students with the skills to navigate online interactions responsibly and seek help when harmful behavior occurs.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Cyberbullying
The first thing that parents should do to help prevent cyberbullying is to let their child know that it is okay to talk to them about cyberbullying. If a child feels like his or her parents can give them support for this issue, then they will be less likely to feel isolated, depressed, and hopeless.
Parents can also show the messages received by their teens to school authorities, or even to the police, to hold bullies accountable. This is especially true If the messages are threatening or sexual in nature. Teens can also be taught to block bullies in order to prevent them from being able to send harmful messages.
Teens should also be instructed not to participate in cyberbullying. They need to be fully aware of the damage it can do and the consequences it can have. The more conscious teens are about the problems that cyberbullying can create, the less likely they will be to participate in it.
Further, teens also need to be taught to never give anyone their social media passwords. A lot of cyberbullying can happen if social media passwords are compromised.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce cyberbullying and help students build healthier online habits, check out our Cyberbullying Courses, Digital Citizenship, Wellbeing 101, Conflict Wise, and Respect & Resolve. Learn more about our programs or request a course demo on our website.
