Key behavioral and emotional indicators in youths that may signal Cyberbullying
“When bullying happens online it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways” (UNICEF, 2025. Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it – What teens want to know about cyberbullying).
Cyberbullying and its acknowledged negative effects on self-esteem
By examining the adverse effects of Cyberbullying on self-esteem, phenomena that is especially prevalent among adolescents, it is essential to explore how these factors interact and shape young people’s personality, character and behavior. Apparently, individuals tend to evaluate their own worth by measuring themselves against others, a process that can produce both positive and negative self-judgments. There is no doubt that Cyberbullying leads its victims to a strongly negative self-perception path. Notably, the digital age has enabled social media to further magnify comparisons to others. This process can profoundly influence how individuals conduct themselves, navigate daily life and engage with the world. When individuals begin to base their sense of worth on others’ approval, acceptance or standards, they risk living according to external expectations rather than their own authentic identity. (Morlu, J.S., 2025. Cyberbullying with Law and the Society; A Psychological perspective of Cyberbullying on Self-esteem).
KEY INDICATORS
Behavioral and emotional warning signs of Cyberbullying can appear both in situations directly linked to digital activity and in contexts that seem unrelated. When it comes to indicators closely tied to the online world, young people who are experiencing Cyberbullying often display several common behaviors, such as:
- Secretive behavior: frequently hiding their screen, closing apps abruptly, or guarding their device.
- Evasive behavior: refusing to talk about their online activity or social media experiences.
- Emotional outbursts: showing sudden anger, sadness, frustration or anxiety after using a device.
- Unexplained changes in social media presence: unexpectedly deleting social media accounts or creating new ones.
- Heightened sensitivity around device rules: becoming upset or reactive when their device use is questioned or limited.
Changes in how the youths use their phone, tablet, or laptop can also be a red flag for Cyberbullying. For example, sudden overuse may signal that they feel pressured to constantly monitor social media or keep up with online conversations. On the other hand, a noticeable drop-in screen time might indicate fear or anxiety about what they’ll encounter online, e.g., messages, comments, or posts they’d rather avoid. Paying attention to these shifts can offer early clues that something is wrong in their digital world (UNICEF, 2025. How to talk to your child about Cyberbullying – Expert advice for spotting the signs and navigating conversations with care).
But the impact of Cyberbullying doesn’t stop at the screen. A study titled “From Words to Wounds: Cyberbullying and Its Influence on Mental Health Across the Lifespan” looked at 883 individuals who had been victims of online harassment, revealing just how deeply these digital attacks can affect real world well-being.
When questioned about Cyberbullying incidents, victims described experiencing:
- shame and humiliation, causing loss of trust in people;
- tendency to withdraw from friends and family, with consequent social isolation;
- a sense of missing out which disrupts social connections;
- loss of interest in hobbies once enjoyed;
- irritability, anger and frustration;
- feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem;
- depressive symptoms, mentioning persistent negative thoughts;
- self-critical inner dialogue;
- a sense of always being judged and increased vulnerability.
Some even interpreted online bullying as common or “normal”, particularly when they struggled with boundaries and rules. Yet, this perception reveals the profound emotional impact of Cyberbullying on their overall well-being and relationships. Finally, Cyberbullying can also manifest in physical ways, such as disturbances in sleep and eating patterns, showing how deeply and badly this type of virtual bullying can affect the quality of life in all its complexity (von Humboldt, Low, Leal, 2025).
The importance of “early digital education”
Cyberbullying isn’t just a one-off incident — it’s a widespread, systemic problem that’s shaping the mental health of entire generations. Today’s children and adolescents need more than just supervision online; they need genuine understanding, emotional support and access to safer, healthier digital spaces. At the same time, many young people require specialized psychological support to help them process what they’ve experienced, validate their emotions and rebuild their self-esteem. And beyond individual care, we need strong, consistent public policies that protect their right to feel safe, both behind a screen and in the real world. Finally, the Cyberbullying issue emphasizes the importance of an “early digital education” that empowers the youths to navigate safely and with confidence the online world (Save the Children Romania, Internet Safety Day 2025. The impact of Cyberbullying on children’s emotional wellbeing).
Photo by Creative Christians on Unsplash
