Understanding Cyberbullying Behavior Pre- and Post-COVID-19: A Qualitative Assessment with Application to Missouri Policy

Cyberbullying is a form of abuse that has become more prevalent with the increased use of social media and advancements in technology. The current study aimed to evaluate cyberbullying behavior and its impact on society before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to understanding Missouri policy within these two time frames. The variables included for the study were cyberbullying behavior/perpetration, cyber victimization, and demographics including age, gender, and race. A content analysis was conducted to examine the literature involving the aforementioned variables pre- and post-COVID. Each variable was separated into prior and current information sections to examine the literature more closely. In addition, general strain theory was applied to better explain how strain directly contributes to cyberbullying behavior. The qualitative analysis provided insight into the increased presence of cyberbullying behavior after COVID-19. Practical implications were also included to address the steps necessary to reduce cyberbullying behaviors. Furthermore, a section on federal and state laws on cyberbullying was also included to better address how cyberbullying is addressed within the state.