Digital Silences: Intersectional Harms in Youth Online Life

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 7:45am
  In Poster Session: Building Just and Equitable Education Systems

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence, gendered dynamics, and psychological impacts of cyberbullying among Taiwanese adolescents through an intersectional lens. Drawing on survey data from 1,695 high school and vocational students, the findings reveal significant disparities in the forms and experiences of online aggression, with both perpetrators and victims reporting elevated internet addiction, FoMO, and diminished school belonging. Notably, many students refrain from reporting incidents due to fear and institutional distrust. Grounded in theories of intersectionality, digital trauma, and critical pedagogy, this research highlights how cyberbullying is embedded in broader structures of gender, emotional vulnerability, and educational neglect. The study calls for trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equity-centered interventions to support youth digital well-being.

Authors

• Chien-Chung Hsu, National Taichung University of Education

• Yi-Ping Lo, Chinese Culture University