A study conducted by Stellenbosch University revealed that 63.9% of surveyed teenagers participated in cyberbullying, linking online violence to worsening well-being and academic performance.
More than a third of the teenagers participating in the study in South Africa reported being both victims and aggressors of cyberbullying. Experts explain this pattern through cycles of humiliation, retaliation, and attempts to gain peer recognition.
The Stellenbosch University study showed that 37.3% of the 659 students whose responses were analyzed experienced and perpetrated cyberbullying within the last six months. Overall, 63.9% reported involvement in cyberbullying as a victim, aggressor, or both. Furthermore, 19.9% were classified as victims exclusively, and 6.7% as aggressors exclusively.
Bavna Latchman, Online Counselling Manager at Childline South Africa, noted that young people subjected to online humiliation can sometimes respond with aggression or target someone else. She emphasized: 'When a child is deliberately humiliated online, they experience immense fear and vulnerability. To restore a sense of control or defend against being at the bottom of the social hierarchy, they may retaliate or target someone else.'
The study also presented a counterintuitive finding that may help explain the complex dynamics in peer relationships. Teenagers engaged in direct cyberbullying showed higher scores on the 'connectedness' scale—one of the indicators of adolescent well-being related to social relationships.
Researchers suggested that some teenagers might use online aggression to navigate the social hierarchy or gain social status. Kaylee Jorgensen, a registered counsellor, stated that the need for belonging can be particularly strong during adolescence. 'A teenager entering high school often tries to answer very important questions: Where do I fit in? Who are my people? What do others think of me? Where do I belong?'
Peer approval can seem especially important at this age, while emotional regulation and the ability to withstand peer pressure are still developing. 'The online world amplifies this because the audience can seem enormous. One comment, photo, or screenshot can suddenly become visible to the entire peer group, and teenagers may feel like everyone is watching them.'