Cyberbullying in Contemporary Media Culture: An Opinion Piece

Abstract:

Introduction: Cyberbullying has emerged as a significant issue in contemporary media culture, with social media platforms serving as the primary vehicles for this form of abuse. This study aims to investigate the psychological causes and effects of cyberbullying, focusing on the underlying psychological theories and the role of social media and gender in cyberbullying dynamics. Methods: The study is divided into three main sections. The first section defines cyberbullying and its prevalence in the digital age. The second section analyzes key psychological theories, including Self-Esteem Theory, General Strain Theory, Social Rank Theory, Norm Theory, and Routine Activity Theory (RAT), as applied by scholars such as Hinduja and Patchin, Hawker and Boulton, Veenstra, and Blumfeld, to understand the motivations behind cyberbullying. The third section examines the impact of social media platforms and gender on cyberbullying, utilizing statistics from surveys and reports to assess which social media sites are most associated with cyberbullying and which genders are more frequently involved as victims or perpetrators. Results: The analysis reveals that low self-esteem, social strain, perceived social rank, and the absence of social norms significantly contribute to the likelihood of individuals engaging in cyberbullying. Social media platforms with high user engagement are identified as hotspots for cyberbullying activities, with variations observed across different platforms. Gender analysis indicates that while both males and females are involved in cyberbullying, there are distinct patterns in who is targeted and who perpetrates the abuse. Discussion: The findings suggest that psychological factors play a crucial role in cyberbullying behaviors, with social media acting as a catalyst. The study underscores the importance of understanding the psychological motivations behind cyberbullying to develop effective interventions. Additionally, the gendered nature of cyberbullying requires targeted strategies to protect vulnerable populations. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the psychological theories underlying cyberbullying and the influence of social media and gender. It highlights the need for further research and the development of preventive measures to address the growing issue of cyberbullying in contemporary media culture.

Keywords:

Cyberbullying, social media, Psychological Theories, Self-Esteem, General Strain Theory, Gender effects, Online Harassment, Media Culture, Social Ranks and Norm theory and RAT theory.

Citation: Neelam Shah (2024). Cyberbullying in Contemporary Media Culture: An Opinion Piece. Horizon J. Hum. Soc. Sci. Res. 6 (2), 46–51. https://doi.org/10.37534/bp.jhssr.2024.v6.n2.id1275.p46