Bryce L. Cooper
Old Dominion University
CYSE 201S: Cybersecurity as a Social Science
Dr. Trinity Woodbury
20th September 2026

The article “Cyberbullying on Social Media” articulates a substantial issue within the modern cybersecurity field, highlighting identifiable inconsistencies relating to the definition of cyberbullying. The authors pursue to resolve this threat by asking: What are the prevailing definitions of cyberbullying within literature and factors that contribute to cyberbullying and how can they be examined? How do personality traits and direct or indirect experiences influence the likelihood that individuals would engage in or become victimized by cyberbullying? By proposing a formalized definition of cyberbullying, the article attempts to expand current understandings and provide potential strategies for mitigating this public health concern.

The relevance of public health is commonly overlooked or approached with a lack of comprehension within cybersecurity. The article utilizes social science principles such as empiricism, skepticism, and ethnic neutrality to provide an accurate assessment of this cyber risk. These principles enhance the analyzation process needed when collecting data in cybersecurity and underscore the need to acknowledge social interactions in relation to technological use. Furthermore, the article utilizes several concepts examined in class such as cyber victimization, as social roles within the digital environment can affect future encounters, showing that individuals who are in social identity bubbles have a higher degree if psychological discomfort. Exploring emotional exploitation directly links to psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral theories of cyber activity, highlighting how individuals involved in cyberbullying take advantage of inadequacies in human psychology.

The article undertook a systematic review, meticulously evaluating established definitions, recognized prevalence rates, and the impact cyberbullying has on victims. The authors’ collection of data is through a comparative analysis, where they utilize sections and graphs that assess the information gathered with clarity, coverage, and accuracy. The study highlights that existing definitions of cyberbullying are inconsistent with a unified conceptual framework being needed (Ray et al., 2024) as well as the research regarding cyberbullying among adults being suboptimal, ultimately requiring further focus studies. Lastly, the authors suggest that intervention initiatives should be nuanced and consider individual idiosyncrasies and cultural differences to influence their impact.

Marginalized groups, specifically those who have disabilities or LGBTQ+ status have an increased risk of cyberbullying as individual traits, online behavior, self-disclosure, and follower counts deepen an individual’s vulnerability to cyberbullying victimization (Ray et al., 2026). The article, however, provides significant societal contributions as it raises awareness about prevalence and substantial impacts cyberbullying produces while educating the public on the serious mental health and social dynamics. Furthermore, the author advocates for policy changes that address cyberbullying to promote and create safer online environments.

To summarize, the articles’ primary contributions introduce a clarified definition of cyberbullying through a systematic review and comparative analysis. By identifying inconsistencies in comprehension and providing a more in-depth analysis, this research enhances the study of social sciences within the field of cybersecurity, ultimately highlighting social vulnerabilities within social media and offering ways to mitigate its risk to public health while creating safer online environments.

Reference:

Ray, G., McDermott, C. D., & Nicho, M. (2024, December 19). Cyberbullying on Social Media: Definitions, Prevalence, and Impact Challenges . Journal Of Cybersecurity. https://academic.oup.com/cybersecurity/article/10/1/tyae026/7928395 ACCESSED: 19TH SEPTEMBER 2026.