US Teens Report Nearly Half Witness Online Harassment, One-Third Directly Targeted

A recent survey of 472 U.S. adolescents from 47 states revealed that nearly half of respondents—44.7%—had witnessed online harassment, while 29.8% reported being directly targeted in the past four weeks. The study, which sampled youth across a broad geographic spread, also found that the same proportion of teens had experienced harm in person, indicating that offline bullying remains as prevalent as its digital counterpart.

The researchers noted that the data were collected through anonymous online questionnaires, allowing participants to report both witnessed and personal incidents of harassment. The findings suggest that the boundaries between online and offline victimization are increasingly blurred, with adolescents facing similar risks in both realms. The survey’s scope—covering 47 states—provides a national snapshot of contemporary bullying trends among young people.

These results underscore the need for comprehensive anti‑bullying strategies that address both digital and physical environments. Stakeholders in education, mental health, and policy may use the data to refine prevention programs and support services for teens navigating harassment in all settings.