Article ONE

Article One Review:Cyberbullying On Social Media
Manuel Randolph
School Of CyberSecurity, Old Dominion University
CYSE 201S: Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences
Diwakar Yalpi
2/24/2026
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In the digital age, cyberbullying has become one of the most important social issues. Poor
online behaviors have grown in number as social media platforms have become essential for
social engagement, identity creation, and communication. In their 2024 paper that was published
in the Journal of Cybersecurity, Ray, McDermott, and Nicho perform a thorough examination
that looks at the definition, incidence, and effects of cyberbullying on victims. The paper places
cyberbullying solidly within the field of social science research by stressing human behavior,
social interaction, and psychological impacts rather than only technical cybersecurity measures.
This review provides crucial insight into the theoretical and practical aspects of online harm by
synthesizing previous empirical studies to find trends, contradictions, and research gaps.
Because it explores relationships between people, power dynamics, psychological
suffering, and societal structures in digital environments, this essay strongly reflects social
science ideas. Cyberbullying is a behavioral and cultural issue influenced by norms, identity,
group dynamics, and social power rather than a technical software bug. Sociology, psychology,
criminology, and communication studies are social scientific fields that help explain why people
engage in cyberbullying and the effects it has on victims. The study also addresses basic
problems in social science related to definition and measure. The absence of an accepted
definition of cyberbullying across research is one of the main problems the authors point out.
The difference makes it difficult to contrast results, calculate incidence, and develop
interventions. The definitional dispute serves as an example of how social constructions
influence the results of research. The essay also looks at social variables including gender and
age, showing how social identity affects experience and vulnerability. These components support
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the notion that in order to properly comprehend digital risk, cybersecurity must take social
science viewpoints into account.
This article does not present a single formal hypothesis with obviously variable
manipulation because it is a systematic literature review rather than a single experimental
investigation. Rather, the writers structure their work according to a number of leading research
questions:
What does academic literature define as cyberbullying?
How common is cyberbullying on social media, according to reports?
What social and psychological effects are linked to being a victim of cyberbullying?
What are the existing research’s shortcomings or conflicts?
The review synthesizes many studies that test independent variables (IV) and dependent
variables (DV), but it does not test any of them itself. Age, gender, social media usage frequency,
and exposure to online harassment are common independent variables found in all of the
evaluated studies. Psychological effects like anxiety, depression, stress, declining self-esteem,
and sleep disturbance are common dependent variables.
For instance, reported victimization rates or mental health outcomes are considered
dependent variables, whereas gender is frequently classified as an independent variable. In the
same way, exposure to cyberbullying might serve as the DV and degree of online participation as
an IV. The authors demonstrate how measurement differences have a substantial impact on
reported conclusions by examining this research collectively.
Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and
Meta-Analyses) framework, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature.
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Transparency and accuracy in the identification, screening, and selection of research is ensured
by this methodical method. Thousands of articles were first found in scholarly databases. 71
peer-reviewed articles were chosen for final analysis after duplicates were eliminated and
eligibility and exclusion criteria were applied.
Research studies on cyberbullying on social media platforms conducted between 2007
and 2022 were the main focus of the inclusion criteria. Excluded were studies with little evidence
or that concentrated on other types of digital harm. The findings’ reliability and dependability are
raised by this methodical procedure. PRISMA-based reviews, in contrast to narrative reviews,
adhere to established screening protocols that bolster the results’ scientific legitimacy. Secondary
data from the selected 71 studies is summarized in the article. Numerous techniques, such as
surveys, self-report questionnaires, interviews, and statistical modeling, were employed in these
studies to gather data. The majority of research measured victimization rates and psychological
impacts primarily using qualitative survey data.
Instead of performing a statistical meta-analysis, the authors conducted a qualitative
synthesis. They collected published prevalence statistics, classified definitions of cyberbullying,
and found trends in psychological effects. One important discovery was that conflicting
definitions and measurement methods led to significant variations in estimations of prevalence.
While some research included intent to injure and repetition in the definition, others did not. The
reported rates of victimization were considerably impacted by this difference. According to the
report, there are gaps in our knowledge of cyberbullying among adults and older groups because
teenagers are the most frequently studied demographic. Technical flaws that restrict generality
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and cross-study comparability are highlighted in the review. This article is linked to a number of
ideas from social science and cybersecurity courses. First, there is a considerable emphasis on
the role that human factors play in cybersecurity. Malware and hacking are not the only threats
that exist; negative actions like harassment and assault can jeopardize people’s online safety and
wellbeing. Class discussions regarding the relationship between technology and society are
reflected in the article.
Second, the idea of letting go online is important. Social media settings have a chance to
reduce social responsibility by promoting adverse behaviors that people might not take offline.
Third, the article’s criticism of unclear terms revolves around measurement and
operationalization concerns, which are covered in research methodology classes. Lastly, the
essay connects to more general debates of cyber law about user safeguards and platform
responsibility. The essay highlights how some groups are particularly impacted by cyberbullying,
especially women and teenagers. According to the studies cited in the article, women frequently
report more abuse and more severe psychological effects. This conclusion relates to larger
societal trends of discrimination and harassment based on gender.
Online environments can cause harm to those who are marginalized. People who are
members of socially vulnerable groups, LGBTQ+ communities, or racial minorities frequently
face targeted harassment that combines with identity-based abuse. The article recognizes the
significance of looking at differential impacts, even though not all of the examined studies
concentrate exclusively on these populations. Future researchers should fill the gap in the
literature caused by a lack of study on various groups. The essay adds to talks on digital equity
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and safety for those who are vulnerable by acknowledging these differences. Cyberbullying is a
social justice issue in addition to a behavioral one. This article helps in a number of important
ways. By combining two decades of research into a well-organized summary, it first offers
clarity. Secondly, it finds conflicts that limit the advancement of policy development and
prevention. Thirdly, it highlights the necessity of better measurement instruments and uniform
terms.
Policymakers, educators, mental health specialists, and cybersecurity professionals can
also benefit from the review. These results can be used by schools to create prevention initiatives
that are more successful. Applying standard definitions helps policymakers better grasp the
issue’s extent. Clearer concepts could also be helpful to IT businesses when creating content
moderation guidelines. The post closes by reiterating that security is about protecting people as
much as technological advances. It takes collaboration between departments between
technologists, social scientists, educators, and legislators to combat cyberbullying.
Conclusion
The systematic literature review by Ray, McDermott, and Nicho offers a thorough
analysis of the terms, incidence, and psychological effects of cyberbullying. The authors identify
significant gaps and differences in the current body of research by using strict selection methods
and combining results from empirical studies. In addition to point out the importance of defining
standards and expanding demography coverage in future research, the study emphasizes the
significance of including social science viewpoints into cybersecurity conversations. All things
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considered, the paper significantly advances our knowledge of the social aspects of digital harm
and the need to safeguard vulnerable groups online.
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Citation
Ray, G., McDermott, C., & Nicho, M. (2024). Cyberbullying on social media: Definitions,
prevalence, and impact challenges. Journal of Cybersecurity, 10(1), tyae026.
https://academic.oup.com/cybersecurity/article/10/1/tyae026/7928395
Article URL
https://academic.oup.com/cybersecurity/article/10/1/tyae026/7928395

Article TWO

Article two Review: Crimes of Human Organ Trafficking and TheirRelation to Human
Trafficking
Crimes
And
Administrative Control in Saudi Law
Manuel Randolph
School of Cybersecurity, Old Dominion University
CYSE 201S: Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences
Diwakar Yalpi
4/14/2026
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This article looks at how social engineering methods are used by hackers to trick people
into exposing private information. The study emphasizes how human behavior rather than just
technology plays a significant role in cybersecurity weaknesses, highlighting the social and
psychological components of cybercrime.
The subject has close connections to a number of core concepts in the social sciences,
such as criminology, sociology, and psychology. The article discusses how attackers take use of
human emotions like fear, trust, and hurry from a psychological perspective. From a sociological
perspective, it shows how communication styles and social relationships affect a person’s
vulnerability to cybercrime. The article covers criminal behavior, motivations, and methods for
committing cybercrimes from a criminology view. These guidelines show that cybercrime is a
human-centered problem as much as a technical one.
The primary study question focuses on the use of social engineering techniques to trick
people into risking their security. According to the theory, people who are ignorant of protocols
for cybersecurity are more vulnerable to these assaults.
Users’ awareness or knowledge about cybersecurity is the Independent Variable (IV).
The probability of becoming a victim to social engineering scams is the Dependent Variable
(DV). The study shows that vulnerability rises as awareness declines.
Using qualitative research methods, the article mostly relies on case studies and a
review of the literature. It looks at actual cases of cybercrime and explores trends in social
engineering methods. This approach makes it possible to fully understand cybercriminals’
actions and behavior in great detail.
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The study makes use of secondary information, such as reports, documented
cybercrime cases, and previously published studies. The analysis, which shows prevalent
strategies including phishing, pretexting, and baiting, is primarily descriptive and
thematic. The paper focuses on explaining patterns and trends in cybercriminal conduct
rather than largely relying on statistical data.
This article relates to a number of topics covered in class, such as cybersecurity
awareness, risk assessment, and routine activity theory. According to the theory of
routine activity, cybercrime happens when a suitable target, a motivated criminal, and a
lack of care come together. By showing how people can lessen their vulnerability through
awareness and education, the essay also supports the idea of risk management. It also
confirms the significance of human elements in cybersecurity, which has been touched on
in lectures.
The paper emphasizes how at risk disadvantaged individuals are to social engineering
attacks, including the elderly, those with poor incomes, and those with low levels of internet
literacy. These populations can be easier targets because they don’t have access to cybersecurity
resources or knowledge. The article further shows that raising awareness in these groups can
greatly lower victimization, demonstrating their potential to improve cybersecurity in general.
By showing the need for education and knowledge in avoiding cybercrime, this study benefits
society. Additionally, it promotes the creation of stronger training programs by helping
corporations and lawmakers in understanding the human aspect of cybersecurity. The essay also
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sheds light on the methods used by cybercriminals, which can help create preventive measures
that are more successful.
The article continues by showing how human behavior and social interaction are important to
cybercrime, especially social engineering. The study offers a thorough explanation of how and
why these attacks happen by linking together ideas from criminology, sociology, and
psychology. The results emphasize the necessity of raising awareness and educating people in
order to lessen vulnerabilities and shield people from online dangers.
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References
International Journal of Cybercriminology. (n.d.). Cybercrime and social engineering attacks.
Retrieved from
https://cybercrimejournal.com/menuscript/index.php/cybercrimejournal/article/view/462/140