Here’s how content creators can help reduce rates of cyberbullying and make the internet a more positive place for young audiences.

With the saturation of digital communication around the world, cyberbullying has a further reach and increasing effect on adolescents. Content creators play a vital role in curbing the issue of cyberbullying by anticipating their audience’s needs and creating a positive online environment.

THE RESEARCH

In “​​A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Adolescents’ Experience Related to Cyberbullying,” Qing Li examines cyberbullying experiences among Canadian and Chinese adolescents to explore how their cultures influenced their experiences. Cyberbullying includes abusive actions such as flaming, online harassment, cyberstalking, denigration, masquerading, outing, and exclusion.

Researchers randomly distributed anonymous questionnaires to Canadian and Chinese middle school students in urban communities. Data was collected from 157 Canadian students (ages 12 to 15) and 202 Chinese students (ages 11 to 14). Then, the researchers conducted a comparative and inferential analysis on the survey responses to determine the frequency of cyberbullying in the two groups.

The cyberbullying statistics illustrate that one in four Canadian students and one in three Chinese students had been cyberbullied; however, Canadian students experience more frequent harassment. Half of the bullying Canadians experienced was online, but Chinese students reported that cyberbullying made up only a fifth of total bullying. Fewer than 9 percent of Canadian students being cyberbullied sought adult involvement while over 60 percent of Chinese students told adults. Li suggests that Chinese culture, being influenced by Confucianism, relies on a traditional relationship of respect between adults and children that gives teachers more authority to stop cyberbullying. Comparatively, Western societies focus on informal relationships that promote students’ independence and deter students from seeking adult intervention when cyberbullying occurs.

“Cyberbullying is a bullying problem occurring in new territory.”

Qing Li (2008)

THE IMPLICATIONS

As adolescents become more exposed to technology, cyberbullying will occur more frequently. Li says, “Cyberbullying is a bullying problem occurring in new territory.” Understanding cyberbullying through cross-cultural perspectives may change how content creators interact with kids at risk of cyberbullying.

Creators who publish online with a potential worldwide audience can (1) be aware that cyberbullying happens frequently to adolescents of nearly every culture, (2) create an environment where adolescent readers feel safe and supported, and (3) encourage young readers to report incidents of cyberbullying to trusted adults. When this is achieved, adolescent readers can continue to return and enjoy online content.

To learn more, read Qing Li’s (2008) article about cyberbullying differences in cross-cultural adolescents: “A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Adolescents’ Experience Related to Cyberbullying.” Educational Research, 50 no. 3: 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131880802309333.

—Madison Mulvey, Netiquette

FEATURE IMAGE BY PRISCILLA DU PREEZ

Find more research

Learn more about how to improve the reader’s experience in “Tailor Your Message To Your Audience: Lessons From Taylor Swift” by Liberty Howell.

Take a look at Daniela Maria Cretu and Felicia Morandau’s (2024) research article to learn how bullying has changed in education: “Bullying and Cyberbullying: A Bibliometric Analysis of Three Decades of Research in Education.” Educational Review 76 no. 2. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2022.2034749.