Cyberbullying
is drawing increasing attention, with online activity soaring and a
larger number of bullying cases resulting in tragedy. “Bystander Intervention in Cyberbullying,” a new study published in the National Communication Association’s Communication Monographs
reveals specific online conditions under which witnesses to
cyberbullying are likely (or unlikely) to intervene in defense of a
victim.
The
study sheds light on the behavior of “bystanders” who “witness”
cyberbullying episodes. Authors Nicholas Brody of the University of
Puget Sound and Anita L. Vangelisti of the University of Texas at Austin
confirmed several tendencies also associated with face-to-face
bullying, and also highlighted the greater role of anonymity in digital
communication, which can make intervention during bullying episodes less
likely.
The
researchers used a two-pronged approach in this study of undergraduate
students. Students in one group were asked to recall a Facebook
cyberbullying incident in the last six months in which they knew the
victim; they were also asked to narrate several elements of the episode,
including their own reaction to it, and their past personal experience
of bullying. Students in a second group were placed into a hypothetical
cyberbullying situation in which they witnessed embarrassing pictures
being posted to a friend’s Facebook page without the friend’s consent.
Participants were asked to report the manner in which they would
intervene and, when presented with varying options, under what
conditions and to what extent they would defend the victim.
Study
results supported the “diffusion of responsibility effect.” The higher
the number of “bystanders,” the less likely intervention would occur
during a cyberbullying incident. Moreover, the perceived anonymity of
“bystanders” also reduced the likelihood of intervention. However, the
closeness that a particular “bystander” felt toward the victim was most
consistently related to his or her decision to intervene. The perceived
“invisibility” offered by digital communication is a significant
concern. According to the authors, the feeling of invisibility among
online witnesses “allows for less adherence to societal standards,” and
may result in antisocial behavior.
Because
many college students report being bullied in an online environment,
the need for greater awareness of this issue is crucial. The findings of
this study might be used to educate schools, colleges, and even parents
about the nature of interventions and how they can be cultivated to
disrupt episodes of cyberbullying. Such steps could have an impact on
reducing the practice, or at least the impact, of cyberbullying.
