Cyberbullying: Insights and Age-Comparison Indicators from a Youth-Led Study in England

Abstract

This paper discusses the findings of a youth-led study into the nature and prevalence of cyberbullying. Over 1,500 young people participated in the research which compared the experiences of two age groups - 12–13 year-olds and 14–15 year-olds - in nine regions of England. The dissipation of adult-youth power relations resulting from data accessed youth-to-youth and the foregrounding of young people’s insider perspectives enabled a more nuanced understanding of the issues to be generated. 40 % of the older youth group and 35 % of the younger age group reported being affected by cyberbullying. Results indicated age differentiators around risk statuses, coping strategies and skill-sets. Older youth were shown to experience higher levels of cyberbullying and aggressive methods, use peer-to-peer support and independent means such as internet provider reporting procedures to address the problem. Younger youth faced more discrete and traditional forms of cyberbullying, exhibited less knowledge for self-protection, and were more likely to seek help from parents.