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A Serious Public Health Problem
Bullying has long been tolerated by many as a rite of passage among children and adolescents. Until recently, most bullying typically occurred at school or other places where children play or hang out, but the abundance of newer technologies in the hands of young people has led to cyberbullying through social media, texting, and other forms of digital communication. Although it is difficult to determine the extent of bullying due to inconsistencies in its definition and measurement, bullying likely affects between 18 percent and 31 percent of children and youths, and the prevalence of cyberbullying is estimated to range from 7 percent to 15 percent. Estimates are even higher for subgroups that are particularly vulnerable, such as individuals who have disabilities, are obese, or are LGBT. In addition, children with fewer same-ethnicity peers at school appear to be at greater risk for being targets of bullying.
Recognizing that bullying is a serious public health problem, a group of federal agencies and private foundations asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to appoint a committee of experts to study what is known about bullying and what we need still to learn to reduce such behavior and its consequences.
The committee's report...