Reviewing and reconceptualising cyberbullying through a social and sustainable lens

The turn of the century saw a rapid increase in the rate of cyberbullying and with it, the long-term damage it causes young people, their families, and communities. Cyberbullying is now considered a high priority policy around the world. With COVID-19 revealing and reinforcing the increasingly technosocial nature of contemporary society, there are calls of concern around the unintended consequences of the pandemic. For example, school closures or lockdowns have resulted in adolescents spending an increased amount of time online. This increase has exacerbated the problem, compounded negative outcomes, and put the safety, health and wellbeing of youth in the virtual space at further risk. Given the far-reaching mental and physical health impacts, this hidden epidemic needs our full attention. Yet, cyberbullying as a field is characterised by definitional inconsistencies and lack of theoretical foundations. Research to date has largely individualised and decontextualised cyberbullying from its social, cultural and political contexts. Therefore, this paper aims to review and reconceptualise cyberbullying using critical social theories and a sustainable development lens to demonstrate the wider and macrosocial drivers and impacts of this form of cyber-harm. This paper will present how discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, known as othering processes, are mediated through technology, alongside highlighting some broader implications of cyberbullying at a holistic and systemic level beyond individuals.