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Assessing the consequences of cyberbullying on mental health

Nature Human Behaviour volume 1, pages 775–777 (2017)Cite this article

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Advances in technology and the advent of social media have led to the emergence of a new phenomenon — cyberbullying. Although there are some similarities, approaches to tackling traditional bullying are largely ineffective in combating cyberbullying, which has been linked to adverse mental health and, in extreme cases, suicide.

The potential for harm of CBV is enormous: about 90% of young people in developed countries between the ages of 13 and 17 years have access to the internet, with a majority visiting social media platforms on a daily basis2. Although most young people are considerate users, Microsoft reports that about 37% of users aged 8–17 years worldwide report being victims of cyberbullying and 24% report being perpetrators3. The case of Brandy Vela exemplifies one of the potential consequences of CBV, which has been linked — in the most extreme cases — to suicide, but also to a range of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression4. It is therefore urgent to deepen our understanding of the role of CBV in mental health and to offer adequate support to victims of CBV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0DS, UK

    Jean-Baptiste Pingault & Tabea Schoeler

  2. Social Genetic and Development Psychiatry Centre, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Jean-Baptiste Pingault

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  1. Jean-Baptiste Pingault
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Correspondence to Jean-Baptiste Pingault.

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Pingault, JB., Schoeler, T. Assessing the consequences of cyberbullying on mental health. Nat Hum Behav 1, 775–777 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-017-0209-z

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