Cyberbullying Research Articles

Modified Metaheuristics Optimization for Cyberbullying Detection on Online Data Science Platform

Online harassment detection faces significant challenges due to its expansive reach and anonymity. Addressing this issue demands effective detection mechanisms capable of processing vast data streams and adapting to evolving online language. Leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence, we propose a novel approach grounded in natural language processing (NLP) and metaheuristic algorithms. Our methodology integrates term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) encoding and the AdaBoost algorithm for classification. To tackle the NP-hard problem of hyperparameter selection, we introduce a modified crayfish optimization algorithm (COA), termed GI-COA. This paper represents a pioneering effort in utilizing metaheuristic algorithms for hyperparameter selection in harassment detection models. Through experimentation, we demonstrate the efficacy of our approach in fostering a safer online environment. The best performing optimize models demonstrate and accuracy exceeding 77%.

An Exploratory Study of Fact-Checking Practices in Conflict and Authoritarian Contexts

This study explores fact-checking practices in Ethiopia and Mali in times of conflict and in a context marked by increasing restrictions to press freedom. The objective is to understand how, in this hostile environment, fact-checkers in these two countries manage to carry out their activities. Our findings reveal that fact-checkers are often victims of online bullying and harassment and fear reprisal from governments. This pushes them to self-censor, avoiding working on sensitive topics, such as military issues in Mali. In addition, fact-checking organizations in both countries highlight the difficulty of accessing reliable sources. Consequently, they focus more on debunking viral social media content, thus effectively becoming content moderators who have turned away from the mission of holding leaders accountable, one of the primary functions of fact-checking. Regarding their role conception, fact-checkers in Ethiopia and Mali see themselves more as guides helping navigate the information disorder than “guardians of truth” or “truth keepers.”

Social media affordances of LGBTQIA+ expression and community formation

Faced with offline discrimination, LGBTQIA+ users frequently turn to social media to find role models, build social networks and test out new forms of self-expression. Each platform has its own affordances and governance processes which can, in turn, facilitate or impede self-expression and community growth. Through a survey of 120 LGBTQIA+ participants, this paper considers which social media affordances facilitate the creation and development of LGBTQIA+ identities, support online and offline community formation and peer-to-peer learning, whilst limiting opportunities for online abuse. While previous research has so far largely focused on younger LGBTQIA+ users' experiences on SM, we found that broadening our sample to include older participants can lead to novel reflections on platforms' potential and/or challenges towards expressing one’s queerness online. For example, while users young and old found the visibility of other LGBTQIA+ accounts inspiring, entertaining and reassuring, particularly within previously stigmatised expressions of bisexuality, we found that older participants preferred to be selective about their outness, or sometimes to not be out at all, not simply for fear of harassment or context collapse, but also because of historical factors around family and friend relationships or because their identity experimentation had already happened offline. We also identified contrasting views about outness and the use and visibility of pronouns, reminding us that the online LGBTQIA+ community is not a monolith in its beliefs and practices, particularly when different life stages are considered.

A comprehensive survey of cybercrimes in India over the last decade

Since the 1990s, the integration of technology into daily life has led to the creation of an extensive network of interconnected devices, transforming how individuals and organizations operate. However, this digital transformation has also spurred the rise of cybercrime, criminal activities perpetrated through networks or computer systems. Cybercrime has become a global concern, presenting significant challenges to security systems. Although advancements in digital technology have enhanced efficiency, they have also opened new avenues for exploitation by cybercriminals, highlighting the urgent need for advanced cybersecurity measures. The escalating number of cyberattacks and associated risks in the past decade highlights the critical importance of protecting sensitive data and safeguarding information systems. Cybercrimes range from financial fraud and phishing scams to identity theft and online harassment, posing substantial risks to both individuals and organizations. In response, governments, law enforcement agencies, and cybersecurity units have intensified their efforts to address these threats. In recent years, India has experienced a significant surge in cybercrime incidents, with a notable increase in cases involving ransomware, data breaches, and social engineering attacks. The growing penetration of internet services, the expansion of e-commerce, and the rapid adoption of digital payment systems have made individuals and organizations more vulnerable to cyber threats. Key areas affected include banking, healthcare, and government sectors, which are frequently targeted due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle. To combat these risks, there is an increasing focus on public awareness, cybersecurity education, and robust regulatory frameworks. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of cybercrime, with a focus on developing innovative prevention strategies, strengthening internal security protocols, and classifying key cybercrime terminologies to better understand their implications for digital infrastructure.

Cybersecurity and personal privacy: Protecting yourself in the digital age

The internet has revolutionized communication, work, and life, offering unprecedented opportunities and conveniences. However, as our dependence on the digital world grows, so do the risks to our personal information, privacy, and security. Cyberattacks, online harassment, and cyberstalking are no longer rare occurrences—they have become everyday threats that anyone can face. Understanding and implementing robust cybersecurity measures is essential for protecting yourself in this increasingly connected world. This article explores effective ways to safeguard against cyberattacks, respond to online harassment, prevent cyberstalking, and remove your personal information from websites that share it without your consent.

“They don’t mean to hurt”: Female gamers’ reluctance in recognizing and confronting sexism in gaming as an online-offline juxtaposition

Female gamers have long suffered from gender-based online abuse in the gaming community. Apart from commonly observed quitting and gender-masking behaviors from female gamers, this study explores what female gamers understand as sexism, how female gamers react to it, and why they choose certain reactions instead of others. Findings show that female gamers are keenly conscious of normalized sexism in gaming culture, and thus often prioritize preventing personal interaction with strangers online, resulting in their shared preference for gaming with trusted acquaintances, which makes gaming an online-offline juxtaposition. Shouldering gender norms in doubled dimensions of gaming and specific real-life relationships, female gamers thus become reluctant to recognize and confront less violent sexism from male acquaintances. Female gamers’ strategic self-protection, although gaining them relatively safer gaming spaces, also consolidates sexism in gaming, and further suggests gaming as a critical social space for reproducing broader gender inequalities.

Problematic Social Media Use, Retaliation, and Moral Disengagement in Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization Among Italian Preadolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model

AbstractDespite existing research on the factors associated with problematic social media use (PSMU), cyberbullying (CB), and cybervictimization (CV) among youth, few studies have explored the relationships between these variables. Rooted in the Maladaptive Coping Theory, this study investigates the complex dynamics of digital behaviors among Italian preadolescents, exploring the interplay between PSMU, moral disengagement, retaliation, and their connections with cyberbullying and cybervictimization. A total of 489 participants (Mage = 11.90, SD = 0.783; 50.3% female) from schools in southern Italy completed an online self-report questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were conducted and correlations between variables were computed. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed using PROCESS in SPSS 27.0. The results of the study indicated that PSMU positively predicted both CB and CV. Moral disengagement (MD) was identified as a mediator in this association, elucidating the role of justifications and cognitive restructuring in facilitating negative online behaviors. Most notably, retaliation emerged as a moderator that amplified the effects of PSMU on cyberbullying and cybervictimization. These findings underscore the pivotal role of PSMU in shaping digital landscapes for preadolescents and highlight the need for tailored interventions. In addition, they highlight MD as a maladaptive coping strategy in the online realm, revealing its instrumental role in perpetuating negative online behaviors. This study’s insights suggest the need for interventions to address the complexity of young people’s online interactions and promote a safer digital environment.

Trust and Safety work: internal governance of technology risks and harms

Abstract Trust and Safety work mitigates certain social risks and harms of digital technologies. In a landscape that is only slowly establishing regulatory oversight mechanisms, Trust and Safety work performs a type of internal governance by attempting to mitigate disinformation, online harassment, extremism, and other harms accelerated or amplified by technology products and services. With origins in content moderation, Trust and Safety work now also includes product advice for online services and IRL (in real life) products. Attention to Trust and Safety work can complicate a monolithic view of what tech work is and who does it, as well as point to locations for intervention as we seek to promote Public Interest Technology in globally impactful sociotechnical systems.

Examining the Prevalence and Effects of Gender-based Violence in Academic Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses.

Gender-based violence (GBV) in the academic job sector is a critical issue that intersects with broader systemic and structural inequities, but research is limited. To study the prevalence, effects, and prevention measures of interpersonal GBV within the academic job sector, a meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis protocol. Rigorous searches were conducted across the databases PubMed, OVID, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL, using specific keywords related to GBV, workplace, and virtual work environments, identifying papers published between January 2013 and February 2023. Studies were evaluated based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes framework. Data from papers were extracted and grouped by reported instances, and prevalence data for interpersonal GBV were reported in university settings, including in-person, hybrid, and virtual environments, and among men, women, and those who identify as 2SLGBTQ+. A random effects meta-analysis of proportions was conducted to evaluate the reported point prevalence rates of interpersonal GBV in academia between 2012 and 2015. Subgroup analyses were performed for university staff only, females only, and males only. Out of the 1,290 records, 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. The types of violence identified include sexual harassment, workplace bullying and online harassment, which affects career advancement, and employee well-being. The meta-analyses, conducted with a 95% confidence interval [CI], identified that 51.4% (95% CI [39.9%, 63.0%]) of university staff members experience GBV, with females, 59.3% [38.1%, 80.5%], experiencing greater rates than males, 44% [28.1%, 44.1%]. The findings underscore the need for institutional interventions to address interpersonal GBV in academic workplaces.

The Relationship of Cyber Bullying and Victimization with Anxiety and Depression Risk in High School Students

In this research, it was intended to find out the frequency of cyber bullying and cyber victimization experienced by students who are attending different schools in a city center and to investigate the relationship between these situations and anxiety and risk of depression. The research population consisted of 460 students studying at Anatolian High School, Private High School, and Imam Hatip High School. This cross-sectional, analytical study included 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade voluntary students. Data collected via questionnaire consisted of three parts: socio-demographic information form, the cyber bullying scale (CBS) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). The daily internet usage time of the participants were found to be 4.07±3.77 hours. Fifty-eight point seven percent (n=270) of the students were victims while 24.5% (n=112) of them were both bully and victims. The cyber victimization score of male students was found to be 24.1±9.6. The mean anxiety and depression scores of the students were 9.6 ± 4.3 and 7.2 ±3.9 respectively, and difference was significant between cyber victims and those who are neither bully nor victims (p<0.001). Anxiety and depression risk were positively correlated to cyber victimization score. The results of this study reveal that cyber bullying and victimization in young people are quite high. The relationship between cyber bullying, cyber victimization and anxiety and depression poses a significant threat for adolescents.

Radical care in displacement: Rohingya women’s activism amidst neoliberal humanitarianism and repression

ABSTRACT This paper examines the activism and care work of Rohingya women in displacement settings, focusing on grassroots efforts in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps and transnational advocacy by diaspora activists. Drawing on 43 in-depth interviews and applying a feminist ethics of care framework, we argue that these women's activism constitutes a form of radical care that challenges both neoliberal humanitarian practices and repressive state policies. Rohingya women activists forge networks of solidarity and empowerment that extend beyond conventional humanitarian interventions, providing emotional support and shared experiences that contribute to the social ecology of care for refugee women. Their grassroots work contests the neoliberal emphasis on individual self-reliance, instead highlighting the vital role of relational care in fostering collective resilience. However, these activists face significant risks from multiple sources, including state repression, community backlash, and online harassment. They employ strategies such as ‘strategic invisibility’ and digital activism to navigate these dangers. Despite the transformative potential of their work, it remains systematically undervalued, leaving activists vulnerable to burnout and depletion. By centering the experiences and agency of Rohingya women, this study reveals a complex landscape of resistance, care, and empowerment, offering insights into how refugee women create change amidst intersecting forms of oppression.

Unwanted Online Sexual Solicitation Among Young People in a Swedish Psychiatric Sample: Occurrence and Associations with Depression and Anxiety

ABSTRACT Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) is a ubiquitous societal problem with negative health consequences. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric (CAP) patients are burdened with more violence exposure than other groups, but more work is needed to chart their exposure to TFSV specifically and to understand how it relates to their mental health. In this study, we aimed to investigate the occurrence of unwanted online sexual solicitation (UOSS) in a young Swedish psychiatric sample. We also aimed to measure the associations between psychiatric symptoms and exposure to UOSS, offline sexual harassment, cyberbullying, and offline bullying. We also aimed to analyze possible differences between boys and girls. Our results show a high occurrence of UOSS (48.61%), which is higher than in the general population. UOSS was significantly higher among girls (57.31%) than boys (20.59%), but boys in the CAP group were burdened with more UOSS victimization than boys in general. Co-occurrence of UOSS with other types of offline and online harassment was substantial. UOSS, together with age and offline sexual harassment, predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms among both girls and boys. UOSS also showed a significant interaction effect with gender, suggesting that boys exposed to UOSS suffer higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms than girls exposed to UOSS. Preventing and treating mental health difficulties needs to consider contextual circumstances such as exposure to sexual violence online.

Determinants of workplace incivility and violence faced by female doctors in medical institutions

Objective: To assess the frequency of workplace gender-based violence and incivility faced by female doctors. Method: The analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted from June 10 to August 31, 2023, in Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised female doctors working in 1 public and 1 private medical institution in Lahore. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Workplace incivility and various demographic factors were compared. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. Results: Of the 200 subjects, 138(69%) were from the private sector and 62(31%) were from the public sector. The majority was aged <30 years 95(47.5%). Some form of workplace violence was faced by 86(43%) doctors; psychological violence by 58(29%), verbal 56(28%), digital harassment 11(5.5%) and physical violence 2(1%). Supervisor incivility was faced by 94(47%) respondents, while 87(43.5%) faced co-worker incivility over the preceding year. Supervisor incivility was significantly higher in private institutions and those having income less than Rs100,000 per month (p<0.05). Conclusion: Workplace gender-based violence and incivility faced by working female doctors was found to be high. The most common forms faced were psychological and verbal violence. Supervisor incivility faced by female doctors at workplace was significantly higher in private institutions and those having monthly income less than Rs100,000. Key Words: Workplace incivility, Gender-based violence, Medical Institutions.

Online Abuse, Emotion Work and Sports Journalism

ABSTRACT This article generates new insights into the changing profession of journalism. Empirically, we present the findings of 21 interviews with journalists working in the Irish and UK sports beats on their experiences of online abuse. Conceptually, we address the under-theorising of emotions in journalism by extending the utility and entanglement of emotion work and emotional labour. In doing so, we posit future lines of theoretical enquiry about individual and social regulation. Several key discoveries are presented. First, sports journalism is a distinctive profession because significant authentic emotional work is undertaken. This is only accentuated when online abuse occurs. Journalists are deeply affected by this abuse, personally and professionally. Second, online abuse towards sports journalists is now so ubiquitous as to be habitually accepted, and it has obscured the distinction between public and private spaces. Third, in response, sports journalists have been compelled to develop their own emotional strategies, including self-censorship, to cope with and manage online abuse. The findings presented here also pose practical and existential questions about the sustainability of the profession, especially in the absence of formal institutional supports or even an informal code of practice about how to cope with and respond to online abuse.

Apprehending digital hostility and online abuse: Feminist care ethics in/and digital ecologies

Apprehending digital hostility and online abuse: Feminist care ethics in/and digital ecologies

Citizens’ perceptions of online abuse directed at politicians: Evidence from a survey experiment

AbstractOnline abuse is becoming an increasingly pressing issue for democratic societies. Citizens play an important role in curtailing abuse as they often moderate online content through counter speech and by reporting abusive messages. However, we know little about when citizens actually perceive negative comments directed at politicians as being abusive, and the factors shaping these perceptions are also understudied. In this study, we therefore investigate how citizens perceive criticism, insults, threats and sexist remarks directed at politicians on social media. Based on a survey experiment with 2,000 Danish citizens, we show that citizens’ assessments of the abusiveness of such remarks are not only affected by the content of the messages, but also by political ideology, political trust and gender. Surprisingly, partisanship does not seem to substantively affect perceptions of abuse. Our study provides novel insights into what exactly citizens consider to be abusive behaviour on social media.

The online exchange of conspiracy theories within an Irish extreme right wing Telegram group during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT While the extreme right wing (ERW) has not gained a foothold in local or national Irish politics, the country has witnessed a growth in online activism and harassment, and physical protest and violence. This paper explores a case study based on 4876 unique posts from one Irish-based Telegram group active during six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main findings are that: (a) this group was heavily influenced by foreign content and influencers, in particular, American ERW content and conspiracies associated with QAnon; (b) conspiracy theories were not adopted wholesale but adapted for an Irish audience; (c) Irish actors were not passive receivers of US content, and multi-directional exchanges of ideas were witnessed. While generalising beyond the case study analysed in this paper would require further data, this may suggest that Irish influencers are part of a transnational online ecosystem in which ideas and theories are shared and adapted to local contexts. These findings offer insights into the ERW in Ireland and, more generally, how the ERW communicates and spread conspiracy theories across national borders.

Risk of online abuse in social media: Legal and safety risk management strategies for athlete welfare in a technology-driven era.

Risk of online abuse in social media: Legal and safety risk management strategies for athlete welfare in a technology-driven era.

Exploring the Relationship Between Cyberbullying and Technology Addiction in Adolescents.

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between cyberbullying/victimization and technology addiction among Turkish adolescents. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 572 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18. The study employed the Bullying and Cyber Bullying Scale for Adolescents (BCS-A) to evaluate cyber victimization (BCS-A VCSs) and cyberbullying (BCS-A BCSs) subdimensions, in conjunction with the Technology Addiction Scale (TAS). Among adolescents, 38.5% exhibited a moderate level of technology addiction. The results revealed positive and weak correlations between TAS scores and BCS-A VCSs (p < 0.001), as well as between BCS-A VCSs and BCS-A BCSs scores at a moderate level (p < 0.001). The study revealed that exposure to inappropriate content, encountering humiliating expressions on social media, sending inappropriate messages or videos to friends, and facing threats were significant predictors of BCS-A VCS scores. Furthermore, the transmission of inappropriate messages or videos, the encounter of cyberbullying victims, the exclusion of friends from online platforms, the experience of distress caused by humiliating expressions, and the sharing of private content were identified as significant predictors of the total BCS-A BCSs score. The study demonstrated a correlation between elevated technology addiction and involvement in cyberbullying or victimization among adolescents. Moreover, the study identified significant predictors of cyberbullying and cyber victimization. It is recommended that health professionals develop intervention programs for safe technology use and the prevention of cyberbullying and victimization. These programs should aim to raise societal awareness, particularly among parents and teachers.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH

Introduction – For many young people dealing with mental illness, social media has bas become an important part of their life to dealing with mental illness. Social media is a wide term that refers to mobile platforms and the web that allow people to communicate with one another in a network. Instagram Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc are some of the most popular social media platforms among young people. Methods – This paper results from literature that talks about social media and mental health. Results – Social media have a lot of positive content and negative content. Many young people appear to use social media to share their personal experiences, look for information about mental health, and give and get support from others who have similar or same mental health challenges experiences. Discuss – The positive impact of social media will affect young people’s promotion of mental health and awareness about mental health. The positive impact of social media has a benefit where they can find social support about mental health. Social media also can make young people or individuals receive negative peer feedback in social media may have negative consequences for psychological development and well-being. Conclusion – Besides the many positive impacts in social media uses, social media has a lot of negative impacts with the consequences. Negative content such as online harassment, sexting, and cyberbullying will hurt mental health which will cause young people stress, anxiety, and depression. Keywords: social media, mental health, young.