Improving Youth Mental Health by Addressing Digital Violence

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State Action

States can prevent and mitigate the harms of electronic bullying by requiring or supporting digital safety and media literacy education in schools, ensuring that anti-bullying policies explicitly cover electronic behaviors, and investing in school-based mental health programs.

School-Based Policies

Schools play a crucial role in addressing and preventing cyberbullying as they serve as a bridge between students, families, and the broader community. School policies can help establish consistent expectations for respectful online behavior and ensure that students have access to appropriate supports, giving them the ability to lead prevention efforts and reinforce consistent expectations for respectful online behavior.

Several states have updated or expanded their school-based policies to include cyberbullying.

California required the state Department of Education to develop a model policy for school districts to address cyberbullying that occurs off-campus and outside school hours. Existing California law already requires the department to maintain a public list of statewide resources, including community-based organizations for youth and families affected by cyberbullying, and local school districts are required to adopt policies to prevent cyberbullying.

Virginia required school boards to expand existing policies and procedures to include instances of cyberbullying that occur outside school property. The state also requires that policies include protections ensuring that a student who is a victim of cyberbullying is not deterred from reporting or seeking support.

Texas enacted "David's Law" which allows law enforcement to collaborate with school officials to investigate reported cyberbullying and makes cyberbullying of minors a misdemeanor. It also requires schools to adopt policies to prevent cyberbullying and support students who have been victims of cyberbullying.

Social Media and Youth

Some states have focused on social media companies and digital platforms as part of their prevention efforts.

Georgia required the Department of Education to develop and periodically update model programs focused on online safety and cyberbullying awareness. The state also requires social media companies to provide parental control tools.

Arkansas required age verification for social media use as well as requirements for social media companies to provide for parental consent and control tools.

New Jersey created a commission to examine how adolescent social media use affects health and academic performance.

Impacts of Digital Violence

The CDC defines "bullying" as unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance, is repeated or likely to be repeated, and causes physical or emotional harm. This includes in-person and online behaviors. Electronic bullying, also referred to as cyberbullying, can occur through text messages, social media, gaming platforms and other forms of digital communication.

CDC data shows that nearly 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property in the past year, and more than one in six experienced electronic bullying during that same period. School reporting reflects similar trends: roughly 28% of middle schools, 15% of high schools, and 10% of elementary schools reported weekly incidents of bullying, while cyberbullying occurred weekly in over one-third of middle schools and a quarter of high schools.

Bullying is considered an adverse childhood experience (ACE) and can have long term impacts on health and well-being. Bullying, including electronic bullying, contributes to absenteeism, lower academic performance and school disengagement. Victims of bullying face increased risks of depression and anxiety, while youth who bully others are more likely to engage in future violent or risky behavior. These outcomes may also strain school, public health and juvenile justice systems resources.

Findings from the CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey demonstrate how deeply digital engagement is embedded in youth culture-and how it intersects with online harm. Approximately 77% of U.S. high school students said they use social media several times a day or more. After adjusting for demographic factors, frequent social media users were about 1.5 times more likely to experience electronic bullying than their peers. The CDC notes that certain student populations, such as female students, are more likely to experience electronic bullying.