ASSESSMENT OF CYBERBULLYING AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the prevalence of cyberbullying among university students in Southeast Nigeria. Specifically, it ascertained the level of prevalence of cyberbullying, examined the nature of cyberbullying, and investigated the causes of cyberbullying among university students. The study was anchored on the tenets of Social Influence Theory. A survey research design was adopted, and a structured questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The sample size consisted of 400 university students selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.The major findings revealed that 92.0% of the students reported having experienced cyberbullying, while 94.0% indicated that they knew a friend who had experienced cyberbullying. Regarding the nature of cyberbullying, 95% of the students affirmed awareness of its various forms. The results further showed that exclusion (94.0%), cyberstalking (96.0%), dissing (77.0%), and trolling (95.0%) were the major forms of cyberbullying experienced by the students. The study also found that the major causes of cyberbullying included hatred for others (94.0%), the desire for power and control (94.0%), revenge, deficient digital communication skills (94.0%), and lack of empathy for others (91.0%). The study concluded that there is a high level of cyberbullying prevalence among university students in Southeast Nigeria. It recommended that cyberbullying can be curtailed through awareness campaigns, seminars, workshops, and the enforcement of laws to punish offenders, as these measures will go a long way in reducing cyberbullying.