CyberRulers: Cyberbullying and Cyberstalking in Africa, Asia, and the Americas

This paper examines cyberbullying and cyberstalking among teens and young adults across three world regions: Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Drawing on nationally representative surveys, peer-reviewed studies, and legal analysis, it maps how online harassment takes root in very different digital environments — from mobile-first Africa to hyper-connected East Asia to the platform-saturated Americas. Reported prevalence varies dramatically, from 4% (parent-reported, Japan) to roughly 55% (lifetime self-report, United States), a spread driven as much by differences in measurement as by differences in behavior. Across all three regions, the pattern is consistent: young people are the most exposed, girls and LGBTQ+ youth face elevated risk, and the mental-health consequences — depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation — are severe and well documented. The paper compares regional legal responses, from Nigeria's Cybercrimes Act to South Africa's Cybercrimes Act of 2020 to the patchwork of U.S. state laws, and closes by translating the research into practical prevention directions aimed at teens and young adults. It is written as the foundation for a forthcoming book on cyberbullying for young readers.