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By SCN Staff
Published August 26, 2026

Quick Review

• 58% of U.S. teens surveyed in 2025 said they had been cyberbullied during their lifetime.
• 33% reported cyberbullying within the previous 30 days.
• 66% of teens who experienced cyberbullying told a parent, while only 31% told someone at school.
• About three-quarters of teen users on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat say bullying is a problem on those platforms.
• AI-generated sexual images and deepfake harassment are becoming school-safety concerns, although national data on AI-specific bullying remain limited.

Cyberbullying statistics can look alarming, but they also provide practical direction. The data show where families, schools, technology companies, and policymakers can strengthen support, reporting systems, digital literacy, and prevention.

Survey definitions differ, so the percentages below should not be directly combined. Together, however, they show a consistent need for safer digital environments.

Ten Cyberbullying Trends In 2026

1. Lifetime Exposure Is Widespread

In the Cyberbullying Research Center’s 2025 national survey of 3,466 students ages 13 to 17, 58% said they had experienced cyberbullying at least once. This is one of the highest lifetime rates reported in the center’s long-running research.

2. Recent Cyberbullying Is Rising

Approximately 33% of teens said they had been cyberbullied during the previous 30 days. The Cyberbullying Research Center reports that recent victimization increased from about 16.7% in 2016 to 32.7% in 2025, nearly doubling over the period.

3. Teens Can Be Targets, Bystanders, Or Participants

The same 2025 survey found that 24.5% of students had cyberbullied someone else during their lifetime, while 16.1% had done so in the previous 30 days. Prevention must therefore address targets, witnesses, and young people who participate in harmful behavior.

4. Name-Calling And Rumors Remain Common

In Pew Research Center’s national survey, 46% of teens had experienced at least one measured form of online harassment. The most common experiences were offensive name-calling (32%) and false rumors (22%). Seventeen percent received unwanted explicit images.

5. Major Social Platforms Are Important Monitoring Points

Pew’s 2026 research, based on a survey conducted in late 2025, found that roughly 30% of teen Snapchat users experienced at least one measured form of harassment on that platform. The figure was about 20% among teen users of Instagram and TikTok. Across all three platforms, roughly three-quarters said harassment and bullying were a problem for people their age.

6. Reporting To Adults Is Improving, But Incomplete

Among teens who had been cyberbullied, 66% told a parent and 31% told someone at school, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center’s 2025 summary. These numbers are encouraging, but they also show why children need more than one trusted reporting route at home and in school.

7. Cyberbullying Can Affect Attendance And Learning

The National Center for Education Statistics found that, in 2021–22, 19% of students ages 12 to 18 reported being bullied during school; among those students, 22% said it occurred online or by text. In earlier Cyberbullying Research Center data, the share reporting that they stayed home because of cyberbullying rose from 10.3% in 2016 to 19.2% in 2023.

8. The Effects Extend Beyond The Screen

Among students bullied during school, NCES found that 28% reported a negative effect on their feelings about themselves, 20% on schoolwork, 18% on relationships, and 13% on physical health. The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on social media and youth mental health also identifies online harassment as a potential contributor to emotional distress and other mental-health concerns.

9. Some Young People Face Identity-Based Targeting

Pew found that 15% of teens believed their physical appearance contributed to online targeting, while 9% identified race or ethnicity as a factor. Black teens were more likely than White or Hispanic teens to say they had been targeted because of race or ethnicity. Prevention should be inclusive and attentive to racism, sexism, disability-based harassment, and attacks related to sexual orientation.

10. AI Is Expanding The Forms Bullying Can Take

A Common Sense Media study released in July 2026 found that 44% of teens had seen sexual content they believed was generated by AI. Among those who had seen it, nearly one in four said it depicted themselves or someone they knew. Separately, reporting on school leaders found that 13% of K–12 principals had identified at least one bullying incident involving AI-generated deepfakes.

AI-specific cyberbullying data are still developing. Families should nevertheless treat manipulated images, impersonation, synthetic audio, and coordinated harassment as real safety concerns.

What Parents And Schools Can Do

Notice changes. Warning signs may include hiding screens, sudden account changes, withdrawal from friends, sleep problems, unexplained physical complaints, declining school performance, or an unusual increase or decrease in device use.

Listen before reacting. Tell your child, “I’m glad you told me, and we will address this together.” Avoid blame and avoid immediately removing every device, which may discourage future disclosure.

Document carefully. Save usernames, dates, messages, platform details, and screenshots. Do not unnecessarily forward sexual images involving a minor.

Report and reduce contact. Use platform reporting tools, block the account when appropriate, and notify the school if classmates or school activities are involved. Contact law enforcement if there are threats, extortion, stalking, or suspected sexual exploitation. StopBullying.gov guidance provides additional steps.

Build prevention into ordinary conversations. Review privacy settings, discuss bystander responsibility, practice reporting together, and remind children that they can bring you an online mistake without losing your support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Most Important Cyberbullying Statistic In 2026?

The 2025 Cyberbullying Research Center survey found that 33% of teens had experienced cyberbullying within the previous 30 days. This measures recent exposure and should not be confused with lifetime prevalence.

Should Parents Check Every Message?

Families should use age-appropriate supervision, clear expectations, and privacy-respecting conversations. Monitoring should support safety and trust rather than replace communication.

What If A Child Shares An AI-Generated Fake Image?

Support the child, preserve surrounding evidence, avoid redistributing the image, report it to the platform, and seek help from the school or appropriate authorities. SCN’s AI Fake Nudes guide explains first steps for families.

A Safer Digital Environment Requires Shared Responsibility

The 2026 data point to a constructive priority: strengthen connection before a crisis occurs. Parents can create safe disclosure pathways, teachers can respond consistently, and policymakers can support meaningful safeguards, responsible platform design, and age-appropriate digital literacy.

Join the SCN newsletter for informed updates, practical family guidance, and resources that help children navigate technology with confidence and protection.

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