Cyberbullying and Mental Health: Protecting Students This Back-to-School Season

The first day of school should feel like a fresh start—new classes, sharpened pencils, friends reunited in buzzing hallways. But for many teens, the excitement is mixed with dread. Because going back to school often means going back online, where cruel messages and relentless posts wait just beyond the screen.

It can start with a single notification. A classmate tags them in a photo, a cruel caption added for laughs. A rumor spreads in a group chat before they even make it to third period. By lunch, the jokes have multiplied into AI-generated memes. By the time they get home, their phone has become a battlefield.

Cyberbullying doesn’t stop at the school gates. It follows students onto buses, into cafeterias, and through the quiet of their bedrooms. And unlike face-to-face taunts, online cruelty leaves a record that can be shared, screenshotted, and seen again and again. The damage doesn’t fade when the bell rings. It lingers, fueling anxiety, depression, and for some, the terrifying thought of not wanting to go on at all.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is defined by any form of bullying that takes place online or through digital devices. It can happen on social media, in text messages, through email, or on gaming platforms. Unlike traditional bullying, which might stop when a child comes home, cyberbullying can be relentless—following kids into their bedrooms and showing up at any hour of the day.

Examples include:

• Spreading rumors or lies in group chats or on social media
• Posting embarrassing photos or videos without consent
• Creating fake accounts to harass or impersonate someone
• Excluding a child from online groups or activities
• Using AI or photo-editing tools to create altered or intimate images without permission
   

What makes cyberbullying especially harmful is its reach and permanence. A cruel comment shouted in a hallway might be heard by a few classmates. Online, that same comment can be seen, shared, and saved by hundreds in seconds. For parents, understanding this difference is key to recognizing why today’s bullying feels so much more overwhelming.

Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, describes the reality many families now face: “These two trends—overprotection in the real world and underprotection in the virtual world—are the major reasons why children born after 1995 became the anxious generation.” 

For parents, that means it’s not enough to simply keep children safe in physical spaces. The virtual world is, in many ways, the main battleground where many of the most damaging threats to mental health live.

The connection between cyberbullying and mental health

Cyberbullying can leave deep scars on wellbeing. Teens who are bullied online report more anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and even physical symptoms. A 2023 study found that almost 15% of adolescents have been cyberbullied, and nearly 14% made a serious suicide attempt. Those numbers don’t lie.

A major study found that teens who face cyberbullying are more than four times as likely to consider or attempt suicide than those who don’t. Another international survey of more than 51,000 teens showed that those who were cyberbullied had almost twice the odds of suicidal thoughts compared to their peers. Data from the Megan Meier Foundation reports that youth who face bullying or cyberbullying are nearly two times more likely to attempt suicide.

Cyberbullying and social media is exacerbated for LGBTQ+ youth

For LGBTQ+ youth, the danger grows sharper. A JAMA Pediatrics study examined nearly 10,000 youth suicides and found that bullying was involved in one in five LGBTQ+ suicides but only one in twenty among heterosexual peers. That difference is heartbreakingly clear.

The back-to-school season means more group chats, more Snap streaks, and more scrolling between classes. A U.S. survey reported that 77% of high school students use social media several times a day. Those frequent users face more bullying, more persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and higher suicide risk. That risk applies to boys and girls, and is especially high for LGBTQ+ youth.

How AI makes cyberbullying even more dangerous

A new layer of concern is the rise of AI-driven harassment. Deepfake technology, once limited to Hollywood, can now be used by teens on home computers. Reports show an increase in AI-generated images, including fake intimate photos, targeting middle and high school students.

For victims, these aren’t just “pranks.” They’re violations that can feel like digital assaults. The fear that a normal selfie could be altered and spread adds another layer of anxiety to students’ daily lives. Experts warn these images are almost impossible to erase once posted.

Parents can help by talking openly with their teens about consent, privacy, and what to do if an AI-altered image surfaces. Knowing where to report and documenting evidence are critical steps.

How parents can talk to their kids about cyberbullying and mental health

One of the most powerful tools parents have is honest, open communication. Yet, many kids won’t bring up cyberbullying on their own. They may feel ashamed, afraid of losing phone privileges, or unsure of how to express their feelings. Creating space for open dialogue can make all the difference.

Here are some ways parents can start and guide the conversation:

• Pick the right moment. Car rides, bedtime, or casual walks can feel less intimidating than sitting face-to-face at the dinner table.
• Ask open-ended questions. Instead of “Did anyone bother you online today?” try “How are you feeling about what’s been happening in your group chats or on Instagram?”
• Listen without jumping in. It’s tempting to offer solutions right away, but kids often need to feel heard before they’re ready to hear advice.
• Validate their feelings. Even if the bullying seems minor to an adult, it may feel overwhelming to a teen. Saying “That sounds really tough” can go a long way.
• Share your own perspective. Parents who talk honestly about stress, mistakes, or times they felt left out model resilience. It shows kids that struggling with emotions is normal, not shameful.
• Keep the door open. Let them know you want to keep talking—not just once, but whenever they need it.

Author Jonathan Haidt’s warning about “overprotection in the real world and underprotection in the virtual world” is a reminder here. Protecting kids doesn’t mean shielding them from every hard moment. It means giving them the tools, words, and confidence to face challenges—and knowing you’ll be there to help them through.

Why therapy and wellbeing activities help

Despite taking place in the digital realm, cyberbullying has real-world consequences. Cyberbullying and mental health are inextricably related. It contributes to low self-esteem, suicidal ideation, anger, frustration, and a variety of other emotional and psychological problems. 

Talking with someone who listens without judgment can make a world of difference. Counseling can anchor teens who feel buried by online attacks. One study of adolescent cyberbullying victims found that virtual counseling gave them a lifeline during a crisis.

At the start of the school year, teachers and parents can also encourage small, daily practices that protect wellbeing. Journaling, drawing, playing a sport, walking a dog, or dancing to a favorite song can provide moments of calm and remind teens who they are beyond the hurt. Schools that build kindness into their classrooms and digital codes of conduct create safer spaces for every student.

Raising resilient (and compassionate) kids in a digital world

Back-to-school season should bring excitement, not fear of the next notification. Parents can’t protect children from every cruel word online, but they can stand as a steady anchor when the digital storm feels overwhelming.

Cyberbullying may be shaped by technology, but the solution is still deeply human. Compassion, conversation, and connection—at the dinner table, in car rides, or before bed—are what help teens feel less alone. 

And in a world where images can be altered and lies can spread in seconds, the truth that matters most is the one parents remind their children of every day: that they are loved, and that their lives hold meaning no screen can erase.