JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The growth of social networking has created a paradigm, in which personal communication is shifting to Internet Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as social media. This also created issues like Cyber-Victimization and Cyberbullying. In response, researchers investigate Cyber-Victimization and Cyberbullying using a vast mix of approaches.

Objective:

This manuscript reviews the methods, results, limitations of the current Cyberbullying research and further discusses physical and mental repercussions of cyberbullying, harassment types, and predicting and counteracting methods. Based on the findings, we discuss future research directions.

Objective:

This manuscript reviews the methods, results, limitations of the current Cyberbullying research and further discusses physical and mental repercussions of cyberbullying, harassment types, and predicting and counteracting methods. Based on the findings, we discuss future research directions.

Methods:

Utilizing Science Direct, ACM Digital Library and PubMed, 34 research articles were used in this review. A review was conducted using the selected articles with the goal of understanding the current landscape of cyberbullying research.

Results:

Studies have analyzed correlations between depressive/suicidal ideations in study subjects and Cyber-Victimization, as well as relationships in the social, educational, and financial status of the perpetrators. Studies have explored detections methods for monitoring cyberbullying. Automated detection has yet to become effective and accurate, however several factors, such as personal background and physical appearance have been identified to correlate with the likelihood that a person becomes a victim or perpetrator in online cybervictimization.

Conclusions:

We discuss current research in this field and provide insights for future research and practice. New studies should be conducted to explore the experiences of victims and perpetrators and identify causal links. The breadth of research includes demographics from China, Canada, Taiwan, Iran, The United States and Namibia. A wider range of national populations need to be considered in future studies for an accurate global assessment given ICT activity in a broad range of countries. The studies reveal a need for formal classification of related terminology. With formal classification, researchers will have a more definite purpose and scope, allowing specific research on a single definable topic rather than general bullying events and symptoms. Two of the total studies utilized longitudinal design for their research methodology. Such a low number of longitudinal studies leaves a gap between causation and correlation, and further research is required to fully grasp the effects of the phenomenon. Research on ways to address ongoing victimization is needed for the various forms of cyberbullying, however social support offers the most effective current standard for prevention.