Comparing cyberbullying and school bullying among school students: prevalence, gender, and grade level differences

Recent technological developments have added cyberspace as part of adolescents’ social milieu. Bullying, which is prevalent in adolescents’ social environment, also takes place in cyberspace, although it is believed to have a more potent and harmful effect. A study of cyberbullying and FtF bullying could elucidate critical implications for children, educators, and policy makers. The present study examined cyberbullying and school bullying among 465 junior-high and high-school students (136 boys and 329 girls) in Israel, through an online survey. Findings revealed that the phenomenon of cyberbullying is less prevalent than school bullying. In the majority of cases in cyberspace, the identity of the cyber bully was known to the victim and the audience. According to the findings, in cyberspace, boys tended to bully more often than did girls; no correlation was found between gender and victim or gender and audience. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of online communication theory.