Bullying and Cyberbullying

Subtopics

Cyberbullying

Physical Bullying

Verbal Bullying

Create a safer school environment by preventing bullying and cyberbullying.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.

Bullying is a widespread issue in the United States. While bullying can happen to anyone, some groups may be at greater risk. Bullying negatively affects those who are bullied, those who bully others, bystanders, and others in the school community. It is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental and physical health, substance use, educational experience, violence, and suicide.

Reducing bullying in schools requires a multi-faceted and community-based approach that includes immediate response and appropriate consequences and support for serious incidents. As part of these efforts, schools can consider assessing the frequency, locations, and types of bullying behavior to better understand the current landscape and determine appropriate prevention and intervention plans. School-based programs that focus on building youth skills and positive environments can also be effective in decreasing incidences of bullying and associated risk factors.

Strategies to Consider

There are several strategies schools and districts can consider to prevent and address bullying. Some of these measures include:

Create a positive school climate that is safe, inclusive, and respectful of all community members.
Implement social and emotional learning to help students build skills, manage emotions, and establish positive relationships.
Set and enforce policies that outline behavioral expectations and monitor places where bullying is more likely to occur.
Conduct teacher and staff training and promote classroom-based bullying prevention activities.
Engage families and students to promote communication and reinforce prevention strategies.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning more about bullying and cyberbullying. Use these resources to help identify, address, and prevent bullying.

Additionally, SchoolSafety.gov regularly publishes issue briefs that provide a high-level overview of a specific school safety topic as well as a sampling of aligned strategies, resources, programs, and tools. Download and explore the bullying-related issue brief below.

Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention

Guidance

Key Considerations for Bullying Prevention

Department of Justice, 2023

This guide presents key information that schools can consider as they develop and maintain bullying prevention programs. It provides an overview of bullying, bullying prevention, context-specific considerations, information on youth engagement and empowerment, and resources related to the intersection of social media and bullying.

Webpage

StopBullying.gov

Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Justice

This interagency website provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how schools and individuals can prevent and respond to bullying.

Training Program

Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment in Our Nation’s Classrooms

Department of Education, 2018

This training for teachers, school administrators and school districts is made up of two modules to address bullying in classrooms. Specifically, it is designed to assist teachers in cultivating meaningful relationships with students while creating a positive climate in the classroom.

Webpage

Tips for Teachers on Cyberbullying

Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Justice

This webpage provides information for teachers, school personnel, and staff to identify warning signs a child is being cyberbullied or is cyberbullying, as well as strategies to prevent and address it.

Filter Resources

All Bullying and Cyberbullying Resources

Access additional resources below to learn more about bullying and cyberbullying and related best practices. Use the filters to sort resources based on subtopic and/or preparedness action.

Report

Bullying Surveillance Among Youths: Uniform Definitions for Public Health and Recommended Data Elements (version 1.0)

Department of Health and Human Services

This report helps organizations, researchers, evaluators, community groups, educators, and public health officials define and gather systematic data on bullying to better inform research and prevention efforts. It is intended to improve the consistency and comparability of data collected on bullying.

Webpage

¿Qué es el acoso? (Spanish)

Department of Health and Human Services, August 2018

This Webpage provides general information and fast facts about bullying, such as definitions of bullying, its prevalence, and tools for its prevention in Spanish.

Webpage

School Safety Special Feature

Department of Justice

This webpage provides information for students and parents on bullying and its effect on school safety.