Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com

ScienceDirect

Review

Cyberbullying via social media and well-being

Gary W. Giumetti1 and Robin M. Kowalski2

Abstract current paper is to present a comprehensive review of this

In this article, we review research examining cyberbullying via research. Our goal is to review the recent literature, iden-
social media among youth and adults and the relationship such tify limitations, and provide future research suggestions. In
behavior has with well-being. We report on several possible the first section, we provide an overview of the prevalence
predictors of cyberbullying via social media, including indis- of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration on social
creet posting, time spent on social media, and personality media, along with an examination of social media features
traits. We also highlight possible negative effects on well-being and individual difference variables that may increase the
that may be linked with cyberbullying via social media, risk of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration. We
including psychological distress, decreased life satisfaction, then review recent research examining the relationship of
and suicidal ideation. We conclude the review with ideas for cyberbullying via social media with well-being.
prevention and intervention, including the use of cyberbullying
detection software to encourage users to think twice before Social media and cyberbullying
posting a cyberbullying message. We also highlight several victimization and perpetration
limitations with the existing research and provide some sug- Definitions
gestions for future research opportunities. With the explosion of a variety of platforms over the last
decade, social media have emerged as the most common
Addresses
1
Department of Psychology, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel vehicles for cyberbullying victimization and perpetra-
Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518, USA tion [2]. Defined as “an aggressive, intentional act car-
2
Department of Psychology, Clemson University, 418 Brackett Hall, ried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms
Clemson, SC 29634, USA of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim
who cannot easily defend him or herself ” (p. 376) [3],
Corresponding author: Giumetti, Gary W. (gary.giumetti@quinnipiac.
edu) cyberbullying can affect individuals of any age who have
access to technology. Common examples of cyberbully-
ing include sending mean messages or posting inap-
propriate pictures of others. Cyberbullying can be
Current Opinion in Psychology 2022, 45:101314
transmitted through many different media, including
This review comes from a themed issue on Social Media and Well- text messages, emails, chat rooms, and on social media.
Being (2022) In this review article, we focus on studies that have
Edited by Patti Valkenburg, Ine Beyens, Adrian Meier and Mariek explicitly measured cyberbullying in relation to social
Vanden Abeele media. We define social media as online communication
For complete overview about the section, refer Social Media and Well- networks that allow users to generate their own content
Being (2022) and engage in social interaction with both large and
Available online 19 February 2022 small audiences synchronously or asynchronously [4].
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101314 These platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
2352-250X/© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. YikYak, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, WeChat, and
others.1 Lastly, we define well-being as both the absence
of physical or mental health problems as well as the
Keywords
Cyberbullying, Social media, Well-being, Predictors and outcomes,
experience of positive affect and satisfaction.
Prevention and intervention.
Involvement in cyberbullying can take three different
Cyberbullying via social media and well- forms: cyberbullying victimization, or being the recip-
being ient of harmful electronic communications; cyberbul-
Since 2004, there has been increased research attention on lying perpetration, or initiating negative electronic
cyberbullying, with a particular focus on predictors and
1
outcomes of victimization and perpetration. Outcomes As noted in this section, the current review paper examines cyberbullying in
relation to social media. We have only included studies in this review if they measured
have included measures of well-being, such as self-esteem, cyberbullying that either occurred via social media or was linked directly to social media
depression, and social support [1]. However, limited by the original researchers. We have excluded studies that focused on cyberbullying
research has examined well-being in connection with more generally. We acknowledge that there is a body of recent research on general
cyberbullying, and we point interested readers to other recent reviews of this literature
cyberbullying on social media. Thus, the purpose of the [e.g., see Ref. [59,60]].

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2 Social Media and Well-Being (2022)

communications that another individual would be occur. Sampasa-Kanyinga and Hamilton [15] reported
motivated to avoid; and, being a bystander or witness to that Canadian teens/young adults who used social media
cyberbullying. Given the ability to respond in real-time were 5.5 times more likely to experience cyberbullying
in online interactions, cyberbullying victims often victimization than teens/young adults who did not use
retaliate and become perpetrators. Similarly, by- social media [see also [16]]. In a recent large-scale study
standers may inadvertently pass along cyberbullying of 180,919 adolescents in 42 countries, Craig and col-
messages or respond in ways that are harmful to a leagues [17] found that social media use, particularly
victim, thereby becoming perpetrators of cyberbullying problematic social media use, was positively correlated
(for more information about these roles, see Kowalski with both cyberbullying victimization and perpetration.
et al. [5]). In addition, cyberbullying victims and per- Similarly, Gahagan and colleagues [18] found that 19%
petrators are also more likely to be involved in tradi- of college students reported cyberbullying victimization
tional face-to-face bullying. Meta-analytic researchers via social media and 46% witnessed cyberbullying on
have reported high correlations among cyberbullying these sites.
and traditional bullying victimization and perpetration
[6]. The lines between victims, perpetrators, and by- Whittaker and Kowalski [19] found that 18.2% of their
standers may become particularly blurred on social US-based college student sample reported cyberbully-
media where features such as “like” and “share” allow ing victimization and social media sites were among the
easy transition from one role to another [7]. most common venues by which the victimization
occurred. Importantly, cross-cultural variations in the
Recent evidence suggests that use of social media can use of social media platforms and the prevalence of
result in cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying cyberbullying victimization on those platforms have
perpetration [8e10]. For example, a study involving been observed [20].
focus groups with adolescents ages 11e18 revealed three
themes related to social media use: social media are a Rather than looking at global relationships between
threat to well-being; social media are a common venue for social media use and cyberbullying victimization, others
cyberbullying; and, social media can be addictive [9]. have studied cyberbullying on specific social media
platforms. For example, McHugh et al. [21] examined
Features of social media that may increase the risk of 38,197 tweets that contained hashtags related to
cyberbullying victimization and perpetration cyberbullying (e.g., #cyberbully). Almost 60% of these
Several authors have identified features of social media that tweets referred to a specific cyberbullying situation.
may make cyberbullying victimization and perpetration Additionally, Mkhize et al. [22] examined cyberbullying
more likely. For example, Chan et al. [7,11] describe how directed towards lesbians, gays, and bisexuals on Face-
accessibility (e.g., ability to find a target), information book. Not only did they find evidence of social media as
retrieval (e.g., finding information about a target), edit- a platform for cyberbullying among sexual minority in-
ability (e.g., the perpetrator can edit or delete a post and dividuals, but they also noted the infiltration of
deny the cyberbullying), and association (e.g., the perpe- LGBT þ groups by heterosexual perpetrators.
trator can blame others for the cyberbullying) on social
media may increase the likelihood of cyberbullying. Barlett, Predictors of cyberbullying victimization
DeWitt et al. [12] also note that social media sites that and cyberbullying perpetration via social
allow greater anonymity (e.g., Yik Yak, Whisper) have higher media
rates of cyberbullying perpetration than sites on which Researchers have identified several predictors of
users are more identifiable (e.g., Facebook, WhatsApp). cyberbullying victimization and perpetration on social
Additionally, popularity on social media (calibrated through media, including online behaviors as well as individual
the number of likes, friends, etc.) may be a status symbol or difference variables (e.g., personality traits and well-
provide identity validation, particularly among adolescents. being variables). Studying these variables may inform
However, in working to achieve this goal, adolescents may future prevention/intervention efforts aimed at
indiscriminately connect with others, potentially exposing reducing the likelihood that social media users will
them to increased threats of victimization [13]. In a lon- experience negative well-being outcomes resulting from
gitudinal study of youth in Singapore, Barlett, Gentile, et al. cyberbullying victimization and perpetration.
[14] found that social media use facilitated the develop-
ment of positive attitudes toward cyberbullying, which Behaviors on social media
increased the likelihood of cyberbullying perpetration. Among the behaviors studied, researchers have high-
lighted that the types of posts users make on social
Prevalence of cyberbullying victimization and media may impact the likelihood of experiencing
perpetration on social media cyberbullying victimization. For example, Peluchette
Recent studies suggest that social media are becoming and colleagues [23] found that risky social media be-
increasingly common platforms for cyberbullying to haviors, including posting indiscreet or negative content

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 Cyberbullying via social media Giumetti and Kowalski 3

(e.g., profanity, negative comments about others), were Well-being outcomes of cyberbullying
related to an increased likelihood of experiencing victimization and cyberbullying
cyberbullying victimization. Kokkinos and Saripanidis perpetration via social media
[24] also found that indiscreet Facebook posting, Beyond identifying predictors, researchers have also
amount of time spent, and number of Facebook friends linked cyberbullying victimization via social media with
were linked with cyberbullying victimization (see also a host of negative well-being outcomes among adoles-
[25]). Interestingly, not all evidence supports the idea cent samples, including increased levels of psychological
that increased social media use predicts cyberbullying distress and physical complaints [38], increased
victimization. Müller et al. [26] found, in a longitudinal depressive symptoms and anxiety [39], reduced life
study of German youth, that social media use was not satisfaction [40], and suicidal ideation and suicide at-
linked with future cyberbullying involvement, but tempts [41]. Among employee samples, researchers
cyberbullying involvement was linked with future social have found similar results, including that cyberbullying
media use. Researchers have linked other online be- victimization on professional social media sites is linked
haviors with cyberbullying victimization including social with increased psychological distress, technostress (or
media use problems [27], self-disclosure [28,29], social the perception that social media sites are both invasive
media addiction [30], having an online relationship with and addictive), and work exhaustion [42].
a cyberbullying victim [31], and number of followers on
social media [13,32]. Other researchers have noted that experiencing cyber-
bullying victimization through social media can impact
Individual differences perceptions of social relationships and the broader or-
Researchers have also highlighted the role of several ganization or school. For example, Kashy-Rosenbaum
individual difference variables in predicting the extent and Aizenkot [43] found that their sample of Israeli
to which an individual might experience cyberbullying students who experienced cyberbullying victimization
victimization via social media. These include low in a WhatsApp classroom group reported more negative
agreeableness [25], high extraversion and openness to perceptions of school climate and a reduced feeling of
experience [23], and LBGTQ þ status [22]. Chan belonging in the classroom.
et al. [7] highlighted a few additional personal factors
linked with cyberbullying victimization via social The outcomes experienced may depend, in part, on the
media, including self-disclosure disposition and response offered by the cyberbullying victim. College
emotional stability. student victims who reported cyberbullying victimiza-
tion on social media indicated that they either blocked
Additionally, other researchers have uncovered several or confronted the perpetrator, or that they stayed offline
individual differences that predict a greater likelihood of for a time to protect themselves from further victimi-
engaging in cyberbullying perpetration, including dark- zation [18,19]. The negative consequences of experi-
side personality traits such as sadism [33], low self- encing cyberbullying via social media may also depend
esteem [34], depressive symptoms [24], and child- on the number of stressors in the situation. Mitchell
hood emotional trauma [35]. In their review, Chan et al. et al. [44] found that consequences of online harass-
[7] highlight several personal factors that have been ment increase directly with the number of stressors,
linked with cyberbullying perpetration, including low such as the presence of multiple perpetrators, repeti-
empathy and moral disengagement. tion, and contact with the perpetrator(s) offline.

Alternatively, other researchers have noted that some Recent research has also examined the role of individual
factors may make it less likely for individuals to difference variables in mediating the relationship be-
engage in cyberbullying perpetration via social tween cyberbullying victimization and well-being. For
media. For example, Ho et al. [36] found that pos- example, Ho et al. [45] found that emotional self-
itive attitudes toward cyberbullying (or perceiving efficacy mediated the relationship between cyberbul-
cyberbullying perpetration as good), subjective norms lying victimization and well-being (defined as self-
(or believing that one has approval from peers for esteem, perceived social support, and subjective well-
engaging in perpetration), and parental mediation (or being). In a study by Liu et al. [46], rumination medi-
limiting time spent on social media) were all nega- ated the relationship between cyberbullying victimiza-
tively related to engaging in cyberbullying perpetra- tion and lower well-being (including self-esteem and
tion. This is noteworthy, as Heirman and Walrave life satisfaction).
[37] found that attitudes toward cyberbullying were
the most important predictor of future cyberbully- Relatively fewer studies have examined well-being cor-
ing perpetration. relates for cyberbullying perpetrators as compared to

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4 Social Media and Well-Being (2022)

victims. Exceptions include a study by Albdour et al. occurring on social media and such behavior is linked
[38] who found that cyberbullying perpetration was with reduced well-being, there are several limitations of
linked with physical health complaints (including this research. First, much of the existing research is
headaches and dizziness). Additionally, Kırcaburun et al. cross-sectional and self-reported, which introduces
[34] found that cyberbullying perpetration was linked to problems of social desirability bias [55] as well as limits
lower perceptions of belongingness as well as indirectly our ability to say that cyberbullying via social media
related to depression through problematic social media directly causes reduced well-being. Therefore, addi-
use. On the other hand, some studies have found no tional research is needed that is longitudinal [61] or
association between cyberbullying perpetration and experimental in nature. Other ways to strengthen the
well-being outcomes. For example, Giordano et al. [30] methodological nature of this research include
found that there was no relationship between cyber- measuring variables in ways other than self-report or
bullying perpetration and depression, anxiety, nor self- using measures of actual behavior.
perceptions of mattering. Additional research is
needed that explores the links between cyberbullying Another set of limitations include that most research has
perpetration via social media and well-being outcomes studied a single age group (most commonly middle or
for perpetrators. high school students) from a single country. However,
evidence suggests that cyberbullying via social media is
Prevention and intervention also prevalent among college students [18,19,23,25] or
Given that cyberbullying victimization and perpetration working adults [42] and that there may be cross-cultural
via social media have been linked with negative well- variability [17]. Therefore, more research is needed that
being outcomes, researchers and practitioners have compares these relationships across cultures and
begun to explore ways to prevent or intervene in these age groups.
situations. For adolescents, evidence suggests that
active parental involvement and monitoring of social Another limitation is that most studies report only on
media use [36], as well as interventions aimed at clari- the prevalence of cyberbullying via social media or
fying social media usage norms [47], training bystanders simply examine bivariate relationships with well-being.
to intervene [54], or teaching about safe usage of social However, less is known about the possible mecha-
media [48] may be important ways to reduce cyber- nisms that might explain why cyberbullying victimiza-
bullying via social media. tion or perpetration may lead to negative well-being
outcomes. Possible mediators might include empathy
Researchers in computer science have demonstrated [56], rumination [46], or self-esteem [45], among
that it is possible to detect cyberbullying [32]. Given others. Additionally, we know less about possible mod-
this, another avenue for preventing cyberbullying is for erators of this relationship that might help us to un-
social media to include a reflective message that may derstand for whom cyberbullying via social media is most
dissuade someone from posting a message detected as problematic. Possible moderator variables might include
cyberbullying. Van Royen and colleagues [49] found that online disinhibition and social support [57], moral
such reflective messages can reduce the intention to disengagement and dark-side personality traits [58], or
engage in cyberbullying. the types of responses/appraisals, including cognitive,
emotional, or behavioral.
Barlett, Dewitt, et al. [12] outline three steps that can
be used on social media to reduce cyberbullying Lastly, many studies ask about cyberbullying via social
victimization and perpetration. The first step involves media broadly, rather than examining the specific venue
helping users develop coping skills by providing them (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or only look at
the means to better respond to cyberbullying (e.g., by cyberbullying on one platform in isolation. More
blocking other users; see also [50]) or to protect research is needed that compares prevalence rates,
themselves from cyberbullying (e.g., by changing pri- predictors, and outcomes of cyberbullying across mul-
vacy settings). The second step involves encouraging tiple social media platforms.
bystanders to intervene when they witness cyberbully-
ing on social media [see also [51,52]]. The third step is Conclusion
reducing the anonymity of users on social media. Despite its popularity, social media represent a double-
Indeed, evidence suggests that teaching individuals that edged sword for users. On the positive side, social media
they are not as anonymous online as they think is narrow the distance between friends and loved ones,
effective at reducing cyberbullying perpetration [53]. facilitating the maintenance of existing relationships
and formation of new ones [4]. On the negative side,
Limitations and future research directions social media may lead to cyberbullying with concomitant
Whereas the existing research has established that negative well-being outcomes for victims and perpe-
cyberbullying victimization and perpetration are trators including damaged relationships and heightened

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 Cyberbullying via social media Giumetti and Kowalski 5

psychological distress. Understanding the online be- 11. Chan TKH, Cheung CMK, Wong RYM: Cyberbullying on social
networking sites: the crime opportunity and affordance per-
haviors and individual difference variables most likely to spectives. J Manag Inf Syst 2019, 37:574–609, https://doi.org/
lead to cyberbullying victimization and perpetration can 10.1080/07421222.2019.1599500.
The authors developed a model of social network site features that
provide potential solutions. However, victims must also might make cyberbullying more likely, including accessibility (e.g.,
know the most effective responses to offer, and by- ability to find a cyberbullying target), information retrieval (e.g., finding
standers need to be encouraged to intervene on behalf info about a target), editability (e.g., the bully can edit or delete a post
and deny the cyberbullying), and association (e.g., the bully can blame
of victims. others for the cyberbullying). Additionally, the authors tested this model
with a two wave study of young adults using MTurk and found support
for the linkage of these features with cyberbullying perpetration.
Conflict of interest statement 12. Barlett CP, DeWitt CC, Maronna B, Johnson K: Social media use
Nothing declared. as a tool to facilitate or reduce cyberbullying perpetration: a
review focusing on anonymous and nonanonymous social
media platforms. Violence Gend 2018, 5:147–152, https://
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* * of outstanding interest conditions under which cyberbullying perpetration is most likely to
occur.
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6 Social Media and Well-Being (2022)

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identify the prevalence of cyberbullying via social media and the links upward social comparison. The authors also found a positive association
with Internet use (study 1), perceptions of cyberbullying toward between cyberbullying victimization and mental health problems (higher
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timization of members of these groups. ironically, that heightened security measures increase the likelihood
that people will voluntarily disclose personal information on social
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Among a sample of 572 college students from the US and Australia, psychological factors. Journal of Child and Adolescent Coun-
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as posting indiscreet or negative info or having friends who post this 23727810.2020.1835420.
type of info) was linked with cyberbullying victimization. Additionally, Among a sample of 428 US high school students, the authors found
individuals who were higher in extraversion (more outgoing, post more that social media addiction was a significant predictor of cyberbullying
content overall) as well as openness to experience (more interested in perpetration, but there was no link between cyberbullying perpetration
new experiences and open to risky situations) were more likely to and connectedness to school, depression, anxiety, nor self perceptions
experience cyberbullying victimization. of mattering.
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74:235–245, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.04.036. The study examined the contagion of cyberbullying on online social
Among a sample of Greek university students, the authors found that networks among 129,164 users of chat platforms, who represented
depression, indiscreet Facebook posting, and self-disclosure were the themselves with avatars. Relationships with and intimacy to online
strongest predictors of experiencing cyberbullying victimization through peers who were victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying increased the
Facebook. risks of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration of the user.
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sonality correlates of Facebook bullying among university ing social media features. Expert Syst Appl 2021, 179:115001.
undergraduates. Comput Hum Behav 2016, 55(Part B): In this article, the authors use machine learning and other techniques
840–850, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.10.017. to detect cyberbullying content automatically from social media posts.
The authors found that, among male college students in Greece, low They found that users with more followers on social media are less
agreeableness and more time spent on Facebook was linked with likely to have posts with cyberbullying content.
higher levels of bullying through Facebook. They did not find any sig-
nificant predictors of bullying through Facebook among female college 33. Kircaburun K, Jonason PK, Griffiths MD: The Dark Tetrad traits
student participants. and problematic social media use: the mediating role of
cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Pers Indiv Differ 2018, 135:
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* use lead to cyberbullying or vice versa? Testing longitudinal The authors surveyed 761 university students from Turkey and found
associations using a latent cross-lagged panel design. that three of the four dark tetrad personality traits (sadism, psychopa-
Comput Hum Behav 2018, 81:93–101, https://doi.org/10.1016/ thy, and Machiavellianism) were predictive of cyberbullying perpetration
j.chb.2017.12.007. which was related to problematic social media use.
The authors conducted a four-wave survey study with a sample of 1200
German school students over a 15-month period. They found that use 34. Kõrcaburun K, Kokkinos CM, Demetrovics Z, Király O,
of social media was not a significant predictor of future cyberbullying Griffiths MD, Çolak TS: Problematic online behaviors among
victimization or perpetration. However, experiencing cyberbullying adolescents and emerging adults: associations between
victimization or perpetrating cyberbullying was predictive of future cyberbullying perpetration, problematic social media use,
social media use. The authors speculate that this could be because and psychosocial factors. Int J Ment Health Addiction 2019, 17:
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the individuals who bullied them. The authors found that, among a sample of 1143 high school and
college students from Turkey, problematic social media use was linked
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* Eijnden RJ: Social media use intensity, social media use negatively related to cyberbullying perpetration. They also found that
problems, and mental health among adolescents: investi- depression was indirectly related to cyberbullying perpetration through
gating directionality and mediating processes. Comput Hum problematic social media use.
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Current Opinion in Psychology 2022, 45:101314 www.sciencedirect.com

 Cyberbullying via social media Giumetti and Kowalski 7

35. Kircaburun K, Demetrovics Z, Király O, Griffiths MD: Childhood 43. Kashy-Rosenbaum G, Aizenkot D: Exposure to cyberbullying
emotional trauma and cyberbullying perpetration among in WhatsApp classmates‘ groups and classroom climate as
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found that childhood emotional trauma was linked with increased among 4517 students aged 9 to 17 in Israel to their offline world.
cyberbullying perpetration in college, and this link was mediated by Specifically, the study found that youth exposed to cyberbullying on
dark side personality traits. WhatsApp perceived a more negative classroom social climate and a
reduced sense of belonging in the classroom.
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and parental mediation were negatively related to cyberbullying sion: self-esteem as a mediator and approach coping stra-
perpetration. tegies as moderators. J Am Coll Health 2021, https://doi.org/
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media through which they experienced cyberbullying victimization were The authors found that, among a sample of 1402 elementary and
Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. Additionally, 26.7% of the sample middle school students in Israel, 64% of the students reported expe-
reported engaging in cyberbullying perpetration. Lastly, cyberbullying riencing cyberbullying victimization in a WhatsApp group prior to the
victimization and cyberbullying perpetration were both associated with intervention, and this number dropped to 59% after an intervention was
increased levels of psychological distress and physical complaints. implemented that targeted cyberbullying behavior.

39. Cao X, Khan AN, Zaigham GHK, Khan NA: The stimulators of 48. Aizenkot D, Kashy-Rosenbaum G: The effectiveness of safe
social media fatigue among students: role of moral disen- surfing intervention program in reducing WhatsApp cyber-
gagement. J Educ Comput Res 2019, 57:1083–1107, https:// bullying and improving classroom climate and student sense
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found that use of social media was linked with cyberbullying victimi- The authors found that, among a sample of 533 4th to 6th grade stu-
zation, which was subsequently associated with increased depression dents in 4 different elementary schools in Israel, students in the inter-
and anxiety. Additionally, moral disengagement moderated the link vention group reported less cyberbullying victimization in a WhatsApp
between social media use and cyberbullying victimization such that group after the intervention as compared to before the intervention.
those participants who scored higher in moral disengagement had a Additionally, the intervention increased students’ sense of belonging
stronger link between social media use and cyberbullying victimization and perceptions of school climate.
than individuals who scored lower in moral disengagement.
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on mental health and wellbeing among young people in In an experimental study, the authors found that including a reflective
England: a secondary analysis of longitudinal data. Lancet: message (including “this comment may be hurtful for the receiver. Are you
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This study examined the effect of the frequency of social media use on
electronic bullying and traditional bullying among adoles-
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cents. Comput Hum Behav 2015, 49:288–295, https://doi.org/
of 12,866 13- to 16-year-old English adolescents. The mediating role of
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The authors conducted an experiment using a sample of 878 young
found that cyberbullying victimization mediated the relationship be-
adults from the US which involved participants reading posts contain-
tween social networking site use and psychological distress, suicide
ing cyberbullying content from Twitter and then indicating their willing-
attempts, and suicidal ideation.
ness to intervene in this situation. They found that participants were
42. Oksanen A, Oksa R, Savela N, Kaakinen M, Ellonen N: Cyber- more willing to intervene when they perceived the incidents as cyber-
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Among two samples of Finnish employees, the authors found that
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professional social media use was linked with cyberbullying victimiza-
retweeting predict likelihood of helping a cyberbullying
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victim. J Computer-Mediated Commun 2018, 23:146–162,
psychological distress, technostress, and work exhaustion. These re-
https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmy005.
lationships were stronger for individuals who identified more strongly
The authors conducted an experiment among a sample of 156 un-
with a social media bubble (that is, they belong to groups on social
dergraduate and graduate students from the northeastern US. They
media that are important to their identity and prefer interacting with
found that participants (playing the role of a cyberbystander) were less
others on social media who are like them).

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