Cyberbullying Bystander Intervention: The Number of Offenders and Retweeting Predict Likelihood of Helping a Cyberbullying Victim. Issue 3 (6th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kazerooni, Franccesca; Taylor, Samuel Hardman; Bazarova, Natalya N; Whitlock, Janis
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer-mediated communication. Volume 23:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2018-04-06
• Subjects: Cyberbullying -- Cyberbystanders -- Bystander Intervention Model (BIM) -- Retweeting -- Social Media -- Repetition; Telematics -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.20285
• DOI: 10.1093/jcmc/zmy005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1083-6101

Abstract

Abstract: Cyberbullying happens while bystanders are watching. To understand cyberbystanders' experience, the present experiment investigates how repetitive aspects of online communication influence bystanders' perceptions and intentions to halt cyberbullying. We consider the role repetition plays in identifying cyberbullying, and outline two of its mechanisms—power imbalance and intention. Participants (N = 133) were exposed to messages on Twitter that either contained retweets or original offenses from one or several offenders. Although cyberbystanders were generally unwilling to intervene, seeing several offenders increased their likelihood of engaging in the Bystander Intervention Model's (BIM) stages. Further, re-sharing moderated the effect of number of offenders suggesting cyberbystanders may be less willing to intervene when they read re-shared rather than original content. Implications for cyberbystander interventions are discussed.