From schoolyards to screens: The evolution of school bullying

Middle-aged and older individuals often recall bullying occurring only within the confines of school corridors or playgrounds. However, for contemporary teenagers, harassment extends beyond the bell signaling the end of the school day. Driven by smartphones and social media platforms, bullying has evolved into a pervasive issue that infiltrates adolescents' homes and can spread rapidly to hundreds of peers with just a few taps on a screen.

This digital form of harassment, known as cyberbullying, has emerged as one of the most rapid-growing dangers to the mental health of Korean adolescents according to a 2025 national survey on cyber violence. The survey found that 42.3 percent of Korean adolescents aged between fourth grade and high school had experienced cyberbullying in some capacity, either as victims, perpetrators, or both.

When asked about their encounters with cyberbullying, the most frequently cited perpetrators were strangers (51.9 percent) and friends (33.6 percent). Disturbingly, it was revealed that a significant portion of victims, 42.9 percent, believed that no one else was aware of their experiences. Various motivations were provided for engaging in cyberbullying, including retaliation, stress, amusement, and intolerance of differences. However, some respondents admitted to having no specific reason for their actions.