The Stark Reality of Cyberbullying: Key Statistics and Trends

Cyberbullying isn’t a fringe issue—it’s a daily threat affecting millions of young people. The infographic from vpnAlert highlights eight pivotal stats from 2022, many sourced from the Pew Research Center’s comprehensive survey of U.S. teens. Let’s break them down, cross-referenced with updated data as of 2025, to provide context.

  1. 32% of cyberbullied children in 2022 were harassed on social media platforms. This figure underscores how social media serves as the primary battleground for online harassment. While exact matches vary, Pew’s 2022 data aligns closely, noting that platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are hotspots for mean comments and rumors. By 2024, the Cyberbullying Research Center reported that 21.6% of bullied students experienced it “online or by text,” up from prior years, with social media implicated in most cases.
  2. 13% of children worldwide reported cyberbullying in 2022. Globally, this stat reflects a sobering baseline, though recent WHO data from 2018–2022 paints a grimmer picture: one in six school-aged children (about 16.7%) faced cyberbullying, with rates ticking up post-pandemic due to increased screen time. In low- and middle-income countries, where access to reporting tools is limited, the true figure may be higher.
  3. 33% of Black teens in 2022 were unsatisfied with law enforcement efforts against cyberbullying. Racial disparities in trust are evident here. Pew found Black teens far more cynical than White (21%) or Hispanic (25%) peers about police intervention. This dissatisfaction persists into 2025, with studies showing minority youth facing compounded bullying based on race and other identities, often leading to underreporting.
  4. 48 U.S. states had cyberbullying laws as of January 2021. Progress is real, but uneven. By 2022, all but two states (and D.C.) had laws addressing electronic harassment, with 44 imposing criminal sanctions. However, enforcement remains spotty—only 14 states require schools to report cyberbullying incidents, leaving gaps for vulnerable students.
  5. 1 in 10 teens believed they were targeted for their gender in 2022. This may understate the issue; Pew reported 22% of cyberbullied teens (about 1 in 5) cited gender as a factor, often intersecting with sexual orientation. For LGBTQ+ youth, rates soar to 30% in 2021 data, highlighting how identity-based attacks fuel mental health crises.
  6. 46% of American teens experienced a form of cyberbullying in 2022. Pew’s landmark finding: Nearly half of 13- to 17-year-olds faced at least one harassing behavior, like repeated unwanted contact or rumors. By 2025, lifetime rates have climbed to 58% for U.S. middle and high schoolers, per the Cyberbullying Research Center, with girls (54%) hit harder than boys (44%).
  7. More children (50%) experienced cyberbullying on Facebook than on other social media. Facebook edged out competitors in 2022, with 50% of affected kids reporting incidents there versus 42% on Instagram. YouTube now leads at 79% risk in 2025 data, but Facebook’s older user base makes it a persistent threat for tweens transitioning to teen platforms.
  8. 65% of Indian children experienced bullying on Facebook in 2022. India topped global charts with 38% prevalence overall, and vpnAlert’s figure ties directly to Facebook’s role in widespread harassment. This global lens reminds us: Cyberbullying knows no borders, with similar patterns in Brazil (29%) and the U.S. (26%).

These stats, while from 2022, hold up remarkably well—rates have stabilized or risen slightly amid hybrid learning and social media’s evolution. For parents, the takeaway? Cyberbullying is pervasive, identity-driven, and under-policed, setting the stage for deeper vulnerability among children with learning differences.