Photo caption: New research finds that one in five tweens have experienced cyberbullying in some way.
Cartoon Network and the Cyberbullying Research Center released results of the first-ever nationally representative survey focused on instances of cyberbullying among tweens, ages 9-12.
The study, launched as part of the Cartoon Network’s award-winning Stop Bullying: Speak Up initiative, found that one in five (21%) tweens have experienced cyberbullying in some way: either by witnessing cyberbullying (15%), having been cyberbullied themselves (15%) or by cyberbullying others (3%).
“While there has been considerable research about cyberbullying among teens, there has been a huge gap in our understanding of these behaviors among tweens,” said Dr. Justin Patchin, professor of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center. “This is a critical development stage, yet it has been vastly understudied when it comes to cyberbullying.”
