The Role of Technology in Youth Harassment Victimization

• NCJ Number: 250079
• Author(s): Kimberly J. Mitchell Ph.D.; Lisa M. Jones Ph.D.; Heather Turner Ph.D.; Dara Blachman-Demner Ph.D.; Kristen Kracke MSW
• Date Published: November 2016
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Series: OJJDP Justice Research Series
• Grant Number(s): 2012-IJ-CX-0024
• Agencies: NIJ; OJJDP

Annotation

This bulletin discusses key findings from the National Institute of Justice-sponsored Technology Harassment Victimization study.

Abstract

This bulletin discusses key findings from the National Institute of Justice-sponsored Technology Harassment Victimization study. It is a follow-up study to the OJJDP's second National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV II). The study examines technology-involved harassment within the context of other types of youth victimization and risk factors to improve current policy and practice regarding the issue. Of the 791 respondents, 230 (34 percent) reported 311 unique harassment incidents in the past year. Sixty-one percent of harassment victims were boys and 60 percent were white and non-Hispanic. Youth who experienced mixed forms of harassment said they could not get away from the harassment because they were being victimized across multiple environmentsat school, at home, and with online technology. The perpetrators were often current or past friends or romantic partners and thus more likely to know personal details about their victims. Texting was the predominant type of technology used in mixed-harassment incidents.