“Nobody Wants the Parents Involved”: Constructing and Contesting Norms of Parental Responses to Cyberbullying

• In Event: Safeguarding the Digital World

Abstract

Although parents rate cyberbullying among their top concerns, little is known about how this concern translates to action. In addition, parents are often considered essential to preventing and responding to cyberbullying incidents. With this in mind, this study uses data from focus groups with parents to examine their responses to hypothetical cyberbullying scenarios in which their child is presented as a victim, aggressor, or bystander. We investigate how parents’ responses conform to, deviate from, or complicate recommendations and advice from researchers and advocacy organizations. In addition, we compare adolescents’ responses to cyberbullying scenarios to see how they converge with or contradict parents’ reactions. Results suggest that while parents are concerned about online aggression and are familiar with parenting norms and expectations around cyberbullying, social context and relationships complicate their responses. Children, however, view cyberbullying as normal and believe that parents should not intervene.

Authors

• Rachel Young, U of Iowa

• Melissa Tully, University of Iowa