Cyberbullying: Topics, strategies, and sex differences

People say and do things with the capacity to hurt or emotionally injure each other, and as individuals continue to interact with each other in mediated contexts, these incidents increasingly occur online. The present study contributes to the growing literature on cyberbullying and answers calls for more descriptive research into online behavior by examining the content and nature of online bullying incidents. Over 400 recalled cyberbullying incidents that occurred on Facebook were obtained from witnesses/bystanders to the events. Inductive analyses revealed eleven cyberbullying strategies and twelve topics. The most frequently reported strategies included public and private comments, photographs, and status updates. The most frequently noted topics involved romantic relationships, friendships, sexual activity, and personal appearance. Moreover, women were more likely than men to be targeted by topics relating to sexual activity, and men were more likely to be bullied using messages linked to their sexual orientation or skills/talents. Results are framed in relation to previous research on traditional bullying and more recent studies on communication in online environments. The types of cyberbullying identified in the study can be used to assist practitioners and bystanders in offering support to victims.