Speakers
Description
Cyberbullying, a major issue among teenagers, involves online violence repeated or sustained over time toward a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself (Smith et al., 2008). Often overlapping bullying, it leads to a hybrid social phenomenon with different bystander’s roles (Salmivalli, 2010). The upstanders defence or support victims, facing a complex dilemma about whether, how, and with what consequences to act. Though typically a minority, upstanders’ contributions are crucial (Sarmiento et al., 2019).
Methodology
This study uses qualitative methods to deepen the understanding of the upstander role in cyberbullying. Conducted with 25 Spanish youth (13 girls) aged 12-16 years, the study involves 3 focus groups and 6 communicative daily life stories.
Results
Upstander interventions are always courageous. Although research in this realm has looked for factors that are present in upstander persons, upstanders are more than single individuals acting alone or even in a group. The findings suggest upstanders usually have supportive relationships, access to resources and information and social norms based on solidarity and mutual aid. Meaning that the upstander own the needed social capital for carry out solidarity actions.
Conclusion
Upstanders are not extraordinary men and women, they are ordinary people carrying out extraordinary actions. But they need to be provided with enough support, resources, strategies and quality relationships to build their social capital, ease their dilemma and help the victims. Creating supportive and safe environment for both victims and upstanders prevents the latter from becoming the next victims and alleviates the suffering of the former.
Keywords
Bystander, Upstander, Cyberbullying, Bullying
| Please also indicate what kind of contribution it is: | Scientific |
|---|---|
| Please indicate what type of scientific contribution it is | Qualitative method study |
