Cyberbullying and Social Control

Jaden Lewis

2/20/2025

Introduction

I reviewed the article “Cyberbullying and Social Control: An Analysis of School Disciplinary Policies” by Kristen Zgoba (2023), published in the International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime. The study explores how different high schools in the U.S. are addressing cyberbullying through policy, discipline, and education. It uses interviews, policy analysis, and criminological theory to explain why some schools are more successful than others in preventing and responding to online harassment among students.

How It Relates to Social Science

This topic directly ties into key social science principles like social control theory, deviance, and behavior modeling. The article shows how institutions like schools enforce norms and values to reduce deviant behavior (in this case, cyberbullying). This aligns with structural functionalism, where institutions function to maintain order. It also reflects objectivity and empiricism, as it relies on actual policy review and interviews for evidence.

Research Questions

The main research question was: How do high school disciplinary policies approach cyberbullying prevention and control? The study also asked how administrators perceive the effectiveness of their responses and what gaps exist in their disciplinary models.

Methods and Data

The researcher used a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with school staff across multiple states and reviewing over 30 school disciplinary codes. The data were thematically analyzed to look for patterns in school responses, language use, and perceived effectiveness. This gave a broad view of how formal and informal social controls are being applied.

Societal Contribution

This study is important because it offers recommendations for how schools can better address online harassment. It suggests more inclusive policy language, training for staff, and stronger collaboration with parents. It emphasizes that treating cyberbullying seriously improves both student safety and long-term social behavior.

Conclusion

Overall, Zgoba’s article effectively shows how social science can help schools create safer digital spaces. By combining theory and real-world interviews, it demonstrates that better understanding of social control and deviance can lead to more effective prevention strategies.

Reference

Zgoba, K. (2023). Cyberbullying and Social Control: An Analysis of School Disciplinary Policies. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime, 6(1), 11–24. https://vc.bridgew.edu/ijcic/vol6/iss1/2