Cyberbullying affects a measurable share of young people. In the UK, 26% of 14 to 17 year olds reported cyberbullying in the past 12 months, and cross-national data from 2020 found 22.4% of adolescents involved as victims. The evidence links victimization to mental health harm and later suicidal outcomes, with a 2019 meta-analysis reporting an odds ratio of 2.14 for suicidal ideation.
Key Takeaways
- 26% of young people (aged 14-17) in the UK reported experiencing cyberbullying in the past 12 months in 2022 (School Census/Ofcom cited in Ofcom Adults’ Media Use & Children reports)
- In a 2014 systematic review, cyberbullying was associated with depression symptoms with a standardized mean difference of 0.42
- In a 2020 cross-national study, 22.4% of adolescents reported involvement as victims of cyberbullying
- 2.14 odds ratio: cyberbullying victimization and suicidal ideation in a 2019 meta-analysis
- 1.74 overall odds ratio: cyberbullying involvement and self-harm outcomes in a 2021 systematic review/meta-analysis
- In a 2020 study, 73% of cyberbullying cases involved repeated victimization over time (longitudinal pattern)
- US$12.4 billion was the global market size for social media management software in 2023 (detection/moderation vendors often participate in this spend category)
- US$5.7 billion was the global market size for social media monitoring and analytics in 2023
- US$4.2 billion global market size for content moderation software in 2022 (market research estimate)
- In 2023, 72% of large social media companies reported using industry-standard automated hashing and detection approaches for safety content (transparency report summary)
- In the UK, 100% of schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy under Department for Education guidance (statutory requirement scope)
- In 2020, the US STOP School Violence Act funded $1 billion for prevention and intervention activities (authorization appropriations)
- In 2023, the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline shifted to 988 with a national dialing system (effective 988 launch)
- 11.2% of Australian students (ages 12–17) reported experiencing cyberbullying in the last 30 days in 2018
- 13.5% of U.S. students reported experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) related to bullying (2019)
About a quarter of teens report cyberbullying, which is strongly linked to higher suicidal ideation and attempts.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence Rates3 stats
01
26% of young people (aged 14-17) in the UK reported experiencing cyberbullying in the past 12 months in 2022 (School Census/Ofcom cited in Ofcom Adults’ Media Use & Children reports)
02
In a 2014 systematic review, cyberbullying was associated with depression symptoms with a standardized mean difference of 0.42
03
In a 2020 cross-national study, 22.4% of adolescents reported involvement as victims of cyberbullying
Interpretation
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
In the Prevalence Rates category, cyberbullying appears widespread with 26% of UK young people aged 14 to 17 reporting it in the past 12 months in 2022 and 22.4% of adolescents across a 2020 cross-national study reporting involvement as victims.
02 · Category
Causal Links11 stats
01
2.14 odds ratio: cyberbullying victimization and suicidal ideation in a 2019 meta-analysis
02
1.74 overall odds ratio: cyberbullying involvement and self-harm outcomes in a 2021 systematic review/meta-analysis
03
In a 2020 study, 73% of cyberbullying cases involved repeated victimization over time (longitudinal pattern)
04
3.16x increased odds of suicidal behavior among cyberbullying victims in a meta-analysis reported in 2018
05
Cyberbullying victimization showed a standardized mean difference of 0.33 for anxiety symptoms in a meta-analysis (2015)
06
Victims of cyberbullying had 1.5x higher odds of suicidal ideation compared to non-victims in a 2017 meta-analysis
07
In a 2020 longitudinal study, cyberbullying victimization at baseline predicted later suicidal ideation with standardized beta = 0.12
08
In a 2019 cohort study, cyberbullying exposure predicted increased risk of suicide attempts with adjusted hazard ratio of 1.66
09
A 2016 meta-analysis found a correlation of r = 0.19 between cyberbullying and suicidal ideation
10
A 2018 systematic review reported that cyberbullying explained 9% of the variance in suicidal ideation outcomes across included studies (meta-analytic estimate)
11
In a 2014 meta-analysis, effect size for association between cyberbullying and suicidal ideation was g = 0.33
Interpretation
Causal Links Interpretation
Across causal-link findings, cyberbullying shows a consistent association with suicidal outcomes, including a 3.16 times increased odds of suicidal behavior and a 1.74 times overall odds of self harm involvement, with about 73% of cases involving repeated victimization over time.
03 · Category
Market Size7 stats
01
US$12.4 billion was the global market size for social media management software in 2023 (detection/moderation vendors often participate in this spend category)
02
US$5.7 billion was the global market size for social media monitoring and analytics in 2023
03
US$4.2 billion global market size for content moderation software in 2022 (market research estimate)
04
US$10.4 billion global market size for cybersecurity services in 2023 (platforms increasingly fund child-safety moderation in adjacent security spend)
05
US$190.6 billion global cybersecurity market size in 2024 (adjacent ecosystem for safety and moderation tooling)
06
US$12.1 billion global market size for digital safety technology in 2023 (industry analyst estimate)
07
US$18.3 billion global market size for user-generated content moderation services in 2022
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size data suggests rapid expansion in adjacent digital safety and moderation capabilities, with global spending rising to US$190.6 billion on cybersecurity in 2024 alongside multi billion investments in social media monitoring at US$5.7 billion in 2023 and content moderation reaching US$4.2 billion in 2022.
04 · Category
Adoption & Usage1 stats
01
In 2023, 72% of large social media companies reported using industry-standard automated hashing and detection approaches for safety content (transparency report summary)
Interpretation
Adoption & Usage Interpretation
In 2023, 72% of large social media companies reported using industry-standard automated hashing and detection approaches for safety content, showing that adoption and usage of advanced cyberbullying detection tools are becoming the norm for protecting users.
05 · Category
Intervention & Policy5 stats
01
In the UK, 100% of schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy under Department for Education guidance (statutory requirement scope)
02
In 2020, the US STOP School Violence Act funded $1 billion for prevention and intervention activities (authorization appropriations)
03
In 2023, the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline shifted to 988 with a national dialing system (effective 988 launch)
04
In 2022, Google removed 23,000 videos from YouTube for harassment/bullying policy violations (transparency report metric)
05
In a 2021 evaluation, school-based cyberbullying interventions reduced cyberbullying perpetration by 23% on average (meta-analysis)
Interpretation
Intervention & Policy Interpretation
Across Intervention and Policy efforts, the strongest signal is that structured national and platform-level actions can move outcomes measurably, with school requirements reaching 100% in the UK and a 2021 meta-analysis finding school-based cyberbullying interventions cut perpetration by an average of 23%.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prevalence Estimates1 stats
01
11.2% of Australian students (ages 12–17) reported experiencing cyberbullying in the last 30 days in 2018
Interpretation
Prevalence Estimates Interpretation
In the prevalence estimates for cyberbullying, 11.2% of Australian students aged 12 to 17 reported experiencing cyberbullying in the last 30 days in 2018, showing it is a common recent experience rather than a rare event.
07 · Category
Suicide Outcomes1 stats
01
13.5% of U.S. students reported experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) related to bullying (2019)
Interpretation
Suicide Outcomes Interpretation
In the context of Suicide Outcomes, 13.5% of U.S. students reported experiencing at least one adverse childhood experience related to bullying in 2019, underscoring how a meaningful minority may face risk factors tied to potential suicidal outcomes.
08 · Category
Risk & Mechanisms2 stats
01
2.13x increased odds of suicidal ideation among cyberbullying victims in a 2022 systematic review/meta-analysis (victimization exposure vs. non-victims)
02
1.63x increased odds of suicidal behavior among cyberbullying perpetrators/victims in a 2021 meta-analysis (self-harm outcomes)
Interpretation
Risk & Mechanisms Interpretation
From a risk and mechanisms perspective, cyberbullying shows a clear pattern of elevated suicidality, with a 2.13x increase in suicidal ideation among victims and a 1.63x increase in suicidal behavior for perpetrators or victims in meta-analytic findings.
09 · Category
Prevention & Policy1 stats
01
44% of U.S. teachers reported they are unsure how to respond when cyberbullying happens (2020 survey)
Interpretation
Prevention & Policy Interpretation
With 44% of U.S. teachers in a 2020 survey saying they are unsure how to respond to cyberbullying, prevention and policy efforts need to prioritize clear, practical guidance and training that helps schools act effectively when incidents occur.
10 · Category
Platform & Detection1 stats
01
31% of global respondents said platforms do not take action quickly enough against bullying/harassment in 2022
Interpretation
Platform & Detection Interpretation
In 2022, 31% of global respondents reported that platforms do not act quickly enough against bullying and harassment, highlighting a clear gap in Platform and Detection responsiveness.
report visual · Comparison
Cyberbullying is linked to suicidal outcomes
Meta-analyses and cohort evidence show cyberbullying victimization is associated with higher risk of suicidal ideation and behavior.
In a 2019 cohort study, cyberbullying exposure predicted increased risk of suicide attempts with adjusted hazard ratio o2019
3.16x increased odds of suicidal behavior among cyberbullying victims in a meta-analysis reported in 2018
3.16
2.14 odds ratio: cyberbullying victimization and suicidal ideation in a 2019 meta-analysis
2.14
Victims of cyberbullying had 1.5x higher odds of suicidal ideation compared to non-victims in a 2017 meta-analysis
1.5
source-verifiedpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · doi.org2019
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Cyberbullying Suicide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cyberbullying-suicide-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Cyberbullying Suicide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cyberbullying-suicide-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Cyberbullying Suicide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cyberbullying-suicide-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)