On the Role and Form of Personal Information Disclosure in Cyberbullying Incidents

Abstract

Disclosing personal information significantly increases the likelihood of incidents of cyberbullying. This highlights the significance of investigating the relationships between various stakeholders in cyberbullying incidents. Our objective is to gain insight into the roles of the stakeholders, types, and typical paths of personal information in cyberbullying incidents. To achieve this, we conducted a large-scale survey with a representative sample of internet users from the United States and Nigeria (N = 1555). Our findings indicate that cyberbullying is often fueled by personal information that becomes known, directly or through social media, to other stakeholders. Cyberbullying incidents involve more than just attackers and victims; they can involve other stakeholders as third-parties 'disclosers' Both strangers and friends typically engage in such activities. Cyberbullying incidents are twice as common in Nigeria as in the United States. Our findings have implications for design, social-media literacy programs, and policy.