Effects of Cyberbullying on the Youth: A Comparative Study of Online Bullying and Mobile Bullying

Bullying has been experienced by generation after generation, but a recent form of this phenomenon is particular to the Internet age and the arrival of mobile telecommunications devices. Cyberbullying involves harmful or harassing communications that are made using cell phones, computers, or other similar devices, and which have the potential to be repeated through sharing messages with others who also use this technology. This study explored the effects of cyberbullying on the youth in Lahore. The study used the theoretical frameworks of the social cognitive approach from media studies. The main objective of the study was to examine the possible effects of cyberbullying on the youth and also examine the comparison between online bullying and text message bullying. Data was collected through a survey comprising 200 young adults (aged 18 to 25) in Lahore. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed that there is a strong relationship between cyberbullying and the youth. Continuous use of mobile phones and social networking websites negatively affect the youth and distort the relationship with their families; it also badly affects their health, education, and their psychological and emotional behaviour. The study found that there were no gender differences in the effect of cyberbullying through online and text messages by young people.