Study: More than a third of students in Cyprus have experienced cyberbullying and online harassment

More than 38% of students in Cyprus have experienced cyberbullying and online harassment over the past year. These findings are contained in the study “Navigating Patterns of Impact and Engagement in Online Harassment and Hate Speech,” prepared by the Alexander College Research Center in Larnaca.

The results of the study were presented on February 5 during an event dedicated to hate crimes and intercultural communication. The authors emphasize that the active use of social networks and online platforms creates not only new opportunities for communication, but also contributes to the spread of harassment and aggressive content online.

According to the survey, social networks remain the main platforms where students encounter cyberbullying. They are followed by online games and news websites. At the same time, about 12% of respondents admitted that they themselves had at some point created or shared content related to online harassment.

The researchers note that cyberbullying does not always take the form of open insults. It often appears in more subtle forms — sarcasm, mockery, demeaning humor, and ironic comments. User anonymity, social media algorithms, and weak content moderation contribute to the spread of such phenomena.

Of particular concern is the fact that online harassment is gradually becoming “normalized”: almost 80% of students said they regularly observe humiliating or offensive content on social networks.

The authors of the study emphasize the need for comprehensive measures — from strengthening legal protection and expanding legislation to educational programs and awareness-raising campaigns. In their view, without a systemic approach, the problem of cyberbullying may lead to real harm to mental health and social cohesion.