Facts About Cyberbullying

Provided by the Annapolis Police Department

  • Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online and almost one in four have had it happen more than once.
  • Among this percentage, being ignored and disrespected were the most common forms of cyberbullying.
  • Nine out of 10 middle school students have had their feelings hurt online.
  • About 75% have visited a website bashing another student.
  • Four out of 10 middle school students have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account or sent communications posing as them.
  • About 21% of kids have received mean or threatening emails.
  • The psychological and emotional outcomes of cyber bullying are similar to real-life bullying outcomes, except for the reality that with cyber bullying there is often no escape. School ends at 3 p.m., while the Internet is available all the time.
  • The primary cyberbullying location where victimizing occurs, at 56%, is in chat rooms.
  • Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying.
  • About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than 4 out of 10 say it has happened more than once.
  • Cyberbullying has increased in recent years. In a national survey of 10-17 year olds, twice as many children indicated they had been victims and perpetrators.