Survey reveals Instagram most commonly used network for online bullying

A major survey has revealed that Instagram was the most commonly used network for online bullying. Over 10,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 20 participated in the UK survey, published yesterday by anti-bullying charity Ditch The Label, which considered issues, including cyberbullying, abuse, online behaviours, online personas, and social media addiction.

According to the report, nearly half (42 per cent) of all young people bullied online had been targeted on Instagram, while 37 per cent reported being bullied on Facebook, and 31 per cent on Snapchat.

The new findings showed a distinct migration from Facebook to Instagram. Research conducted earlier had placed Facebook as the worst social network for cyberbullying. According to a 2013 study conducted by The Trolled Nation, Facebook was the worst social network for cyberbullying, with 87 per cent of teenagers who had been bullied reporting it happening on Facebook.

Also, a 2014 study by Cox Communication had revealed that 39 per cent of teens had witnessed online bullying on Facebook, while 22 per cent had experienced bullying on Instagram.

The report revealed that the most common forms of cyberbullying, included having nasty comments posted on profiles and photos, receiving unwelcome private messages, and having profiles wrongfully reported.

Also, from the survey it emerged that:

• 50 per cent reported getting bullied;
• 1 in 10 reported they were bullied within the last week;
• 50 per cent of those who had reported being bullied reported they were bullied over their appearance;
• 24 per cent of those bullied said that they had their private information shared online;
• 27 per cent had photos and videos shared against their will;
• 18 per cent had their profile wrongfully reported.

The full study also delved deeper into the psyche of young people who engaged in bullying behaviours, with 12 per cent of respondents reporting that they had bullied someone by their own definition.