Perceptions and experiences of cyberbullying amongst university students in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Liezel Cilliers

doi:10.4102/td.v17i1.776

Abstract

Cyberbullying in South Africa has become a problem in the recent past. However, there is a lack of research focusing on cyberbullying at the university level. This study investigates the perceptions and experiences of cyberbullying amongst tertiary students in the Eastern Cape province. The study used a quantitative survey approach to collect data from 150 students at a university in the Eastern Cape. The results indicated that one-third of the students had been victims of cyberbullying. Overall, students considered cyberbullying as a serious issue, but less than one-third of the students could identify the indirect methods of cyberbullying. The topic has not been incorporated into policy or the university curriculum in South Africa. This study recommends that the Department of Higher Education must provide a standardised policy and curriculum on cyberbullying that universities can use to implement and enforce cyber safety behaviour at the university.

Highlights

Generation Z has made social media a fundamental part of their lives.[1]
This study investigated the perceptions and experiences of cyberbullying amongst tertiary students in the Eastern Cape
This study investigated the perceptions and experiences of cyberbullying amongst tertiary students in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Summary

Introduction

Generation Z has made social media a fundamental part of their lives.[1] Mander et al.[2] found that, on average, Generation Z spends 163 min a day on social networks and messaging sites. This statistic can be attributed to the fact that this generation was the first to have grown up in a world with constant Internet technology and connectivity[1]. Generation Z is a group of people who were born in the period 1995–2012 The youngsters in this group are comfortable with technology and use various social platforms to socialise with their friends and family.[3]. This type of harassment is very difficult to stop as technology is being used in all parts of our lives, creating a power imbalance.[6,7]

Objectives

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion