Cyberbullying, digital technology, and social media use: research and practical implications for U.S. Schools

With the increase in digital technology and social media use for children and adolescents, cyberbullying is a prominent concern in the United States. Bias-based cyberbullying that targets students’ marginalized identities is also on the rise. This chapter defines cyberbullying, reviews its prevalence in the United States, and highlights risk factors for cyberbullying involvement, including both individual characteristics and socio-ecological factors. The research on the impact of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration is summarized. Cyberbullying prevention and intervention approaches in schools, including formal programs and school-wide efforts to promote a positive school climate and enhance students’ social-emotional learning and digital citizenship are reviewed, with reference to programs implemented worldwide. Finally, cyberbullying laws and policies in the United States are described, and the importance of collaboration is highlighted.