Cyberbullying Statistics & Facts

Though it is a complex topic to talk about, cyberbullying is a crucial issue that Internet users of all ages come across. As the Internet becomes increasingly intertwined with our lives, many people tend to use it for a variety of nefarious purposes. Cyberbullying is one of them.

In this guide, I will take you through some key facts about cyberbullying and provide interesting statistics on the topic, as well as its related subtopics.

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying refers to a type of bullying that uses digital devices as its medium. Whereas old-school bullies did things face-to-face, cyberbullies use devices like smartphones, computers, and the Internet to embarrass people. As the Internet has become an integral part of our lives, so has cyberbullying. It is not surprising to find that thousands, if not millions, of kids are exposed to cyberbullying across the world.

Depending on the context, cyberbullying could take different forms. It is also worth noting that cyberbullies also target people other than kids. Several studies have underlined how the chances of cyberbullying attacks increase as kids become older. Therefore, it could be the case that adults among you are also victims of cyberbullying.

As for the location, almost every interactive space on the Internet could be a potential spot for cyberbullying. However, cyberbullying mainly happens on social media platforms, content-sharing sites, messaging apps, gaming platforms, and forums. These platforms also make it easy for the bully to extend their attack through repetition.

Although we talk about cyberbullying as an issue that primarily affects children, the consequences of these cyberattacks can affect all individuals. In the worst cases, cyberbullying can cause problems like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Long story short, cyberbullying is an issue that requires our urgent attention and action.

The following statistics on the issue can help you gather that image.

Most Common Types of Cyberbullying

Understanding the most common types of cyberbullying is probably the first step in addressing the issue at hand. Below is a brief overview based on surveys and other metrics.

Verbal violence and harassment are the most common types of cyberbullying

Multiple studies reveal that verbal forms of harassment are the most common among cases of cyberbullying. These attacks may include actions like insults, threats, mocking remarks, and slander. The idea here is that a bully may share rumors about the victim or call them names. Most of these attacks are done from behind an anonymous account in most cases.

Visual aggression attacks are also common in cyberspace

Multiple forms of visual aggression would be another common type of cyberbullying. Disrespecting consent is a common characteristic of such attacks. In most cases, cyberbullies would share embarrassing videos and photos of the victim on a public platform. The idea of pushing personal images and other content to a public space is to invite mockery and shame.

Account Forgery and Impersonation are also on the rise

Cyberbullies these days go to the extent of creating fake accounts, which are then used to share sensitive information of the victim. This type of cyberbullying attack can also cross legal boundaries since it requires the unauthorized use of content. These accounts are used to spread a variety of content, including racist or mean comments, among others.

In addition to these, many forms of cyberbullying exist. One can also see that cyberbullies come up with new ways to attack the victim and isolate them. For instance, methods like outing, trolling, doxxing, fraping, and denigration are unfortunately an everyday thing on platforms, including popular ones like X.

Top Cyberbullying Statistics

Here are some top cyberbullying statistics.

• Cyberbullying has become such a prevalent issue among US teenagers that 26.5% of all teenagers report being a cyberbullying victim in the past 30 days. It highlights the frequency of such attacks on a regular basis.
• 30% of teens in the United States are lifelong victims of cyberbullying, meaning that they have been a victim of cyberbullying at least once. However, some surveys indicate that this number has reached 58.2% in 2025.
• Lifetime victimization and 30-day victimization numbers were almost half of what they are right now in 2016. The number of offenses committed using mobile devices and computers has also increased over the past decade.
• Gender disparities exist in the case of cyberbullying cases as well. While 49.5% of male teens in the United States are likely to experience some forms of cyberbullying,  over 59.2% of female teens will probably face cyberbullying during their age.
• When focusing on the 15- to 17-year-old age group, the disparity becomes more evident. 54% of female teens from this age bracket are likely to be cyberbullied, whereas only 44% of male teens in the age group will likely face cyberbullying.
• Multiple studies have established the connection between cyberbullying victimhood and the chances of self-harm and suicide. Some studies suggest that victims of cyberbullying, mainly belonging to the LGBTQ+ community, are three times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual teens.
• The cases of cyberbullying have increased following the COVID-19 pandemic because children have had to rely more on technology and collaborative spaces.

• Multiple studies have pointed out that YouTube is a common space where kids are cyberbullied the most. 79% of kids who are using YouTube are likely to be cyberbullied, whereas 69% of kids who are using Snapchat are likely to be cyberbullied.
• The numbers are not so great for TikTok and Facebook, which are at 64% and 49% respectively.
• An SQ magazine report has suggested that Brazil, India, Europe, and Japan are the four places where cyberbullying is most common. In Brazil, 41% of the youth population have been accustomed to cyberbullying, whereas the numbers for India, Europe, and Japan are 31% and 15% respectively.
• Multiple factors, such as appearance, race, sexuality, financial status, religious preferences, and academic performance, could be reasons for kids to get cyberbullied.
• Out of these, most cases of cyberbullying among teens happen because of appearance. This is followed by insults based on the victim’s academic achievement or general intelligence.
• According to a study conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Center, more than half of the victims of cyberbullying have expressed that the attacks have affected their motivation to learn and perform well in school.
• Social anxiety is probably the most common consequence of cyberbullying among kids. 41 percent of kids who were victims of cyberbullying say that they have developed social anxiety, whereas 37 percent of victims have developed depression.
• One in four victims of cyberbullying has either deleted their social media profiles or has had suicidal thoughts.

Cyberbullying Prevention

Given the breadth of the cyberbullying issue, prevention is the need of the hour. Here are some statistics and facts on how the world is trying to prevent cyberbullying.

1. Legislatures in the United States have taken prevalent measures to prevent cyberbullying, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center. 44 states in the US have enacted laws that will invite criminal sanctions for those who engage in Cyberbullying or other forms of electronic harassment.
2. Only a few states, such as Wyoming, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Maine, and Minnesota, have yet to have some form of legislative support for victims of Cyber harassment.
3. Data from platforms like Facebook also indicate that the threat of cyberbullying and harassment is in decline. For instance, in Q4 of 2024, Facebook had to take remedial actions towards 6.7 million cases of content that violated the terms and conditions related to bullying and harassment. On the other hand, in Q1 2025, the company had to act upon only 5.1 million pieces of content.
4. Platforms like Facebook have also been taking proactive measures to counter bullying issues. In most cases, the company is more likely to flag and remove bullying-based content before there is a report from users.
5. There are also differences in how teens react to cyberbullying. While 36% of the victims have asked the person to stop these attacks, thirty-four decided to revoke all forms of communication with the bully. 29% chose to stay silent about the entire situation, while 11% talked to the parents.
6. That parents almost never get to know about the cyberbullying incidents is a big reason why it is challenging to prevent cyberbullying at its core.
7. Except for TikTok, few social media platforms worldwide have what it takes. To get a passing grade in terms of the Social Media Safety Index. This means these platforms are not a safe space for kids and adolescents.

Cyberbullying in School

Here is an overview of how prevalent cyberbullying is in school spaces.

• Cyberbullying in schools continues to be a prevalent issue, and kids these days are willing to admit that they are cyberbullying others. One in eight adolescents who are in schools has revealed that they have been involved in some form of cyberbullying targeted at others.

• The willingness to admit to cyberbullying others also reveals how children are still unaware of the deeper impacts of this action.
• The Trevor Project has highlighted that LGBTQ middle and high school students who were victims of cyberbullying were three times more likely to have self-harming thoughts.
• Cyberbullying Research Center has drawn through its studies that in-person bullying has taken a dip and that more students are now using digital means to bully others.
• When victims of cyberbullying in school contact the attackers and ask them to stop the attack, they are repeatedly contacted via text or online.
• Some studies have found overlapping teenagers, which means they are at the same time victims of cyberbullying and offenders.
• Cyberbullying in schools is not limited to the United States alone. Developing countries like India have also seen a rise in the number of cyberbullying cases in school environments, where 35% of students in India have been victims of cyberbullying in one way or another.

Wrapping Up

Cyberbullying within and outside schools continues to be a significant problem that affects the mental health of adolescents and even young adults. It is also clear that the effects of cyberbullying can vary depending on the socio-political status of the student, with marginalized groups having extensive issues such as self-arming tendencies and social anxiety. Preventing these issues and creating a safer online space requires multiple entities, including social media platforms and regulatory bodies, to act.