Graduation Term

2024

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Criminal Justice Sciences

Committee Chair

Ashley Farmer

Abstract

There is an epidemic of cyberbullying in higher education, impacting college students. The purpose of this study is to examine cyberbullying among college students. The incidence and awareness of cyberbullying in a college sample shed further light on the issue and explored college students' experiences with the phenomenon. A mixed-methods analysis was conducted on 278 college students from Illinois State University. Results showed that 44.8% of students had experienced cyberbullying, with females being more likely to be victims, international students, and those of sexual orientation being more likely to experience cyberbullying. According to the data, the most prevalent social media platform for cyberbullying was Snapchat. Most participants acknowledged that they did not report the incident to law enforcement, unlike only a few who stated they did. Those who did report the incident indicated nothing was done about the incident. Participants indicated that cyberbullies commonly target random people. The study's conclusions suggest that college students, particularly females and international students, need in-depth instruction and knowledge regarding cyberbullying, and future research is needed to determine how to protect college students from being bullied online and create awareness about the issue.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2024.20240618063947821085.999995

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