Investigating cyberbullying :Emerging research and e-safety strategies within families and communities

As new technologies and ways of communicating become increasingly central to daily life, new forms of social aggression using digital tools are emerging globally. Social networking technologies have brought about opportunities to engage in cyberbullying and place considerable pressures on families, schools and communities to remain informed and vigilant to this developing phenomenon. While research findings suggest that up to one in four children report being cyberbullied, the impact of this negative behaviour is often hidden from parents, carers, teachers and the broader community. This paper aims to provide an overview of the forms and effects of cyberbullying by reviewing the research literature, the incidence of, and factors contributing to cyberbullying. The paper also explores emerging approaches to developing e-safety strategies across Australia.