Cyberbullying Awareness and Emotional Impact among Malaysian Parents: An Exploratory Study

Cyberbullying is a significant issue in the digital era, particularly for parents who strive to safeguard their children from harm in the online world. Despite its growing prevalence and its potential to disrupt lives, there is limited understanding of how parents perceive and respond to cyberbullying incidents. This study seeks to fill this gap by investigating Malaysian parents’ awareness of cyberbullying, the specific forms it takes, and the emotional effects of witnessing such incidents on both parents and children. Using a structured questionnaire, the research gathers insights from a diverse group of parents representing various demographic backgrounds, such as age, gender, education level, and socioeconomic status. The findings reveal varying levels of awareness among parents, highlighting common forms of cyberbullying such as harassment, impersonation, public shaming, and social exclusion. Additionally, the study explores how parents respond to these incidents, including strategies for supporting their children and advocating for safer online practices. Parents reported a range of emotional responses, including anxiety, frustration, helplessness, and anger, reflecting their deep concern for their children’s well-being in digital spaces. This study underscores the urgent need for parental education on cyberbullying and the development of culturally appropriate interventions and educational programmes to combat this issue effectively.