EL PASO, Texas — New improved technology allows for an entirely new type of digital electronic aggression: cyberbullying. Historically, bullying has always happened at school. Now in the recent years, the physical setting is not the only place bullying is happening. Social media, chat rooms and apps are the new face of bullying.
Researchers with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine wanted to learn more about bullies of today, and how to prevent the abuse. The report was released Tuesday, May 10. It looks at the science on biological and psychosocial consequences of peer victimization and the risk and protective factors that either increase or decrease peer victimization behavior and consequences.
The report makes several recommendations to the US Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Justice, Agriculture, and Defense, the Federal Trade Commission and social media companies. Researchers recommend the agencies to come up with a consistent definition of bullying, strengthen anti-bullying laws, and have harsher punishment for online bullies from social media companies.
The published results are called "Preventing Bullying through Science, Policy and Practice."
Read the report online for free, view a free pdf, or buy the book by clicking here.