Article review #2
Cyberbullying

Relation to Social Sciences Principles: This study connects to social sciences by looking at how cyberbullying affects people in online spaces. It digs into how people behave, the social rules we follow, and the mental toll it can take on individuals, helping us understand how tech impacts the way we interact and shape society
Research Questions or Hypotheses: The article is trying to answer these key questions:
How is cyberbullying defined and talked about in existing research?
How common is cyberbullying across different groups of people?
What are the mental and social effects of cyberbullying on individuals?
Research Methods Used: The authors did a systematic review of existing studies. They looked at studies on cyberbullying published up until 2024, checked how cyberbullying was defined, how often it happens, and the reported effects, and then put everything together to see if there were any patterns or gaps in the research
Types of Data and Analysis: The data came from a mix of qualitative and quantitative studies, including reports, surveys, and peer-reviewed articles. The analysis included:
Comparing how common cyberbullying is across different groups.
Looking for common themes in how it affects people mentally and socially.
Identifying differences in how cyberbullying is defined and reported
Relation to Course Concepts: The article ties into concepts like:
Social Norms and Deviance: It looks at how cyberbullying goes against what’s usually accepted behavior online.
Behavioral Psychology: It explores how cyberbullying messes with people’s emotions and mental health.
Digital Sociology: It examines how social media shapes the way we interact with each other in today’s world
Relation to Marginalized Groups: The study points out that groups like LGBTQ+ people, racial minorities, and those with disabilities are hit harder by cyberbullying. It stresses the need for specific support and solutions to help these communities navigate online spaces
Overall Contributions to Society: By pulling together what’s already been studied, the article:
Helps us get a clearer picture of how big and serious cyberbullying is.
Gives policymakers and educators ideas for how to stop it and help people who’ve been affected.
Raises awareness about the need for responsible online behavior and being a good digital citizen
Conclusion:
To wrap it up, this study really highlights how serious cyberbullying is and how it affects people’s mental health and social lives. By looking at past research, it gives us a clear picture of how common cyberbullying is, how it’s defined, and the damage it causes, especially to vulnerable groups. It shows that we need more focus on helping these groups and creating better support systems. The study also reminds us that there’s a need for better education, policies, and awareness to stop cyberbullying and encourage responsible online behavior. Overall, it’s clear that we need to keep working on finding ways to fight cyberbullying and make the digital world a safer place for everyone.

References:
Geraldine Ray, Christopher D McDermott, Mathew Nicho, Cyberbullying on Social Media: Definitions, Prevalence, and Impact Challenges, Journal of Cybersecurity, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2024, tyae026, https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyae026