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MARYVILLE

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News Brief

March 31, 2025

Cyberbullying can affect adults as well as young people

Being bullied by someone face-to-face can be difficult to overcome, but how do you handle the situation when you can't see the bully's face? Cyberbullying online has become more prevalant over the last few decades with more online interactions among people using different social platforms. Consultant for the University of Missouri Broadband Initiative, Joe Leer says cyberbullying isn't just an issue among young people it can also effect adults too.

"I know that we hear more about the youth but I also know that adults do face cyberbullying and we see a lot of that particularly today with people with polarized views. Depending on the groups they're in and those kinds of things, we can get them shouted down.", says Leer. 

Leer also notes there are resources available in Missouri to help people report cyberbullying depending on the severity.

"If you search for StopCyberBullyingMissouri or StopBullyingMissouri, there are places to report those kinds of things. You can also talk to law enforcement depending on the nature of the bullying, locally. If it is happening in the school, there are places to talk to people within the school. If you know who is doing the bullying, talk to them and see if there is a reason for that and if you can get them to stop.", says Leer.

Additional cyberbullying resources are available nationally at StopBullying.gov