Cyberbullying

Bullying affects many Americans, and it’s important to end this cycle of suffering by showing community support for victims. The CDC highlights that bullying is a widespread concern that impacts even the youngest age group in communities. In fact, about one in five high school students have reported being bullied in academic institutions.

Cyberbullying, the use of electronic devices to harass, shame, incite and humiliate, is imposing a devastating impact on today’s youth. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, between 2007 and 2019, the percentage of youth experiencing cyberbullying rose from 18% to 37%.

Kirk Smalley, of Perkins, Oklahoma, is president of Stand for the Silent, an anti-bullying organization that has reached more than 3.2 million children through talks at 4,276 schools across the United States. In his talks, Smalley retells the devastating story of the day his son, Ty, took his life after years of being bullied. Since then, telling children they can make a difference has been his full-time job — his schedule shows more than 275 days on the road annually.

The growth of the digital age, technology, online learning, and gaming has exposed children and teens to the internet. With cybercrimes on the rise, parents should be aware of the threats, risks, and vulnerabilities their children are exposed to. 

31% of Americans have been bullied as an adult, and many (43%) say that the behavior has become more accepted within the past year, according to one survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association. While many are familiar with children bullying one another and the concept of adults bullying within settings like the workplace, many may not think that an adult is even capable of bullying someone significantly younger.