Cyberbullying in the UK: The Effect of Global Crises on the Victimization Rates

Figures & data

Table 1. Comparisons of cyber-bullying perpetration before and during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Question and Responses	Before COVID-19%)	During COVID-19%)	Change (%)	Significance (p < .05)
How often have you posted something online about someone else to make others laugh? - Never	48.7	71.3	+22.6	p = .002
How often have you sent someone a computer text message to make them angry or to make fun of them? - Never	71.7	88.3	+16.6	p = .002
How often have you sent someone an e-mail to make them angry or make fun of them? - Never	95.7	97.0	+1.3	Not sig at 0.05 level
How often have you posted something on someone’s social media page or other web page to make them angry or make fun of them? - Never	87.0	93.9	+6.9	Not sig at 0.05 level
How often have you taken a picture of someone and posted it online without their permission? - Never	76.5	88.3	+11.8	p = .002

Table 2. Comparisons of “never” responses before and during UK lockdowns pertaining to cyber-bullying victimization.

Question and Responses	Before COVID-19%)	During COVID-19%)	Change (%)	Significance (p < .05)
How often have you been made fun of by another person in a chat room? - Never	30.5	61.9	+31.4	p<.001
How often have you received an e-mail from someone you know that made you really mad? - Never	67.6	80.0	+12.4	p = .002
How often have you received an e-mail from someone you didn’t know that made you really mad? This does not include “spam mail.” - Never	79.0	81.9	+2.9	p<.001
How often has someone posted something on a social media site that made you upset or uncomfortable? - Never	13.3	45.7	+32.4	Not sig at .05 level
How often has someone posted something on another web page that made you upset or uncomfortable? - Never	35.2	49.5	+14.3	p<.001
How often have you received an instant message that made you upset or uncomfortable? - Never	9.5	38.1	+28.6	p<.001
How often have you been bullied or picked on by another person while online? - Never	20.0	59.0	+39.0	p<.001
How often have you been afraid to go online? - Never	48.6	69.5	+20.9	p<.001
How often has anyone posted anything about you online that you didn’t want others to see? - Never	24.8	70.5	+45.7	p<.001

Table 3. Comparison of passive cyber-bullying bystander behaviors from before and during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Question and Responses	Before COVID-19%)	During COVID-19%)	Change (%)	Significance (p < .05)
When I browse the internet and/or social networks, I see how some people make fun of others, but I do not do anything to avoid it.- Never	25.2	13.9	−11.3	p=.004
When I interact in social networks, I see people attack others who cannot defend themselves, but I do not get involved. - Never	24.8	18.7	−6.1	p<.001
I see on the internet and/or social networks how some people upload photos or videos that harm others, but I do not say anything to defend them. - Never	27.4	26.5	−0.9	Not sig at .05 level
I read on the internet hurtful messages from some people against others, but I do not say anything to defend them. - Never	20.9	20.0	−0.9	Not sig at .05 level
When I see that someone is attacking a person on the internet (insulting, mocking, or hurting them), I choose not to do or say anything. - Never	25.7	19.1	−6.6	p=.026

Table 4. Comparison of defensive cyber-bullying bystander behaviors from before and during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Question and Responses	Before COVID-19%)	During COVID-19%)	Change (%)	Significance (p < .05)
When I am on social media and I see some people harass others who cannot defend themselves, I tell them to stop. -Never	35.7	27.0	−8.7	p=.03
When I see on the internet that some people upload photos or videos that are offensive to others, I tell them that this is wrong. -Never	37.0	27.0	−10.0	p<.001
If I read hurtful messages on the internet, of a person toward another weaker person, I write to the person who wrote the message so that it stops. -Never	38.3	37.4	−0.9	Not sig at .05 level
When I see on the internet that some people post offensive messages about others who cannot defend themselves, I write to them to say to that this is wrong. -Never	39.6	34.3	−5.3	Not sig at .05 level
I tend to defend people attacked or insulted on social networks or on the internet. -Never	33.0	25.2	−7.8	p=.01
When I see someone upload photos or videos that are offensive to others, I write to them to ask them not do it more or to remove it. -Never	39.1	33.9	−5.2	p=.18

Table 5. Comparison of reinforcing cyber-bullying behaviors from before and during UK COVID-19 lockdowns.

Question and Responses	Before COVID-19%)	During COVID-19%)	Change (%)	Significance (p < .05)
I share hurtful posts (photos, videos, or messages) that were uploaded by others. -Never	93.5	90.4	−3.1	Not sig at .05 level
When I browse the internet, I click “like” on publications such as photos, videos, messages, and hurtful rumours about others who cannot defend themselves-Never	88.3	80.4	−7.9	p=.04
When I browse the internet, I support with comments the hurtful publications such as photos, videos, messages, and rumors toward others who cannot defend themselves.-Never	94.8	88.7	−6.1	p=.002
When interacting in social networks on the internet, I see people who harass others and let them know that I find it funny. -Never	94.3	91.7	−2.6	Not sig at .05 level
I am interested and enjoy being part of groups in social networks that publish hurtful photos, gossip, and insults about others. -Never	93.9	93.0	−0.9	Not sig at .05 level
I follow profiles of people who post hurtful photos, gossip and insults about others and I make them see that I like them. -Never	91.7	89.1	−2.6	Not sig at .05 level
I like to encourage or support people who post hurtful photos, gossip, and insults about others. -Never	96.5	95.7	−0.8	Not sig at .05 level