A comparison of bullying online and offline: Findings from a national survey

Ybarra, Michele, Mitchell, Kimberly, & Espelage, Dorothy (2009, April).  A comparison of bullying online and offline: Findings from a national survey. Presented at the AERA Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Summary:

There have been comparisons of bullying online and offline, none have used parallel measures. This presentation uses data from the Growing up with Media study to:

1. Compare and contrast the frequency of bullying that occurs via technology (e.g.,internet, cell phone) and offline (e.g., school,community).

2. Report the characteristics of youth reporting these experiences.

Findings:

- Two in five youth are bullied (37%).Findings are very similar to previously reported national estimates of bullying.

- Bullying is reported twice as often at school as online.

- One in five youth (20%) are bullied in two or more environments.

- One in ten youth report being bullied both online and at school.

- About 2 in 3 youth bullied online and at school are bullied by the same person.

- About half are bullied by different people online and at school.

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