Internet harassment and bullying behaviors: Implications for youth development

Ybarra, Michele. (2008, August). Internet harassment and bullying behaviors: Implications for youth development. Presented at the 11th Annual Children’s Law Institute, New York, NY.

Summary:

This presentation analyzes data from the Growing up with Media and Youth Internet Safety Survey studies to discuss characteristics of Internet harassment, specifically:

1. What is it

2. Who is being targeted

3. Who is doing the harassing

4. A quick aside about unwanted sexual solicitation

5. Legal implications of Internet aggression

6. Implications for public policy and for professionals working with youth

Findings include:

-    The majority of youth who use the Internet are not involved in Internet harassment.

-    Between 9% -35% of youth report being targeted by Internet harassment (7% monthly or more often), depending on the measure used; between 9-28% of youth report harassing others

-    Boys and girls are equally likely to be involved in harassment either as a victim or aggressor

-   Older youth are more likely to be involved either as a victim or aggressor

-   Psychosocial problems are apparent for both victims and aggressors, specifically in areas of substance use and school behavior problems.

-   Based upon the data, most incidents of adult-child sexual relationships that begin online and move offline involve:   A willing child who knows the person they’re talking to is: 1) an adult; and 2) interested in sex. A very different crime than is typified by the media.

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