Session: Cyberbullying in an Asian Context: Its Nature and Impact (Society for Social Work and Research 25th Annual Conference - Social Work Science for Social Change)

Cyberbullying is a serious problem that confronts young people of today′s society. Although technology has granted us with the convenience of connecting with community, it has also resulted in rampant misuse such as cyberbullying due to the perceived sense of anonymity (Barlett et al., 2016). Victims become vulnerable to the scrutiny of the whole Internet community, which may further compound the bullying effect by circulating the materials or posting hurtful comments. Despite growing empirical research on cyberbullying within the past decade, it is still a fairly under-studied phenomenon, particularly in non-Western societies such as Asia. As information and communications technology (ICT) is being increasingly embraced by Asian adolescents, cyberbullying is a crucial issue in many Asian countries. Further, the patterns of cyberbullying and its consequences may differ from those in Western countries. Thus, a more thorough investigation, along with a comprehensive understanding of the nature, determinants and impacts cyberbullying in an Asian context, is essential. This symposium aims to share high quality empirical research focusing on Asia to provide innovative approaches on cyberbullying and its relevant behavioral and psychological concerns. It contributes to social work researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in developing and implementing effective prevention and intervention programs which aims to address cyberbullying and enhance well-being of children and adolescents.