Where is cyberbullying happening

The prevalence of cyberbullying among youth and young adults by location in Canada

Where is cyberbullying happening? Where is cyberbullying happening? PDF Version (1.37 MB)

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Introduction

Using data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey of Children and Youth (CHSCY) and the 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS), this product explores the prevalence of cyberbullying experiences among youth (aged 12 to 17) and young adults (aged 18 to 29) by Canadian geographic location.

Key terms

CyberbullyingFootnote 1
Any behaviour performed through electronic or digital media by people or groups that repeatedly communicates hostile or aggressive messages intended to inflict harm or discomfort to others.
Prevalence
The percentage of people in a group who share a common experience (e.g., cyberbullying) in a specific time period.
Indigenous
The term Indigenous is used to refer to all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people. This was a self-selected identity survey question.
North-South boundary

The northern category comprises the three territories as well as portions of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The southern category comprises provinces that are in whole or in part in the South and include portions of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Figure 1: Census of population, North and South, 2016Footnote 2
Figure 1: Full data is available in the image description below and Table 1
Image description

A map of Canada with provincial and territorial boundaries. A black horizontal line cuts through the map to mark the North-South boundary. The southern boundary (i.e., the area below the line) is a burnt orange colour and the northern boundary (i.e., the area above the line) is a dark blue colour.

The area below the boundary includes: the bottom third of British Columbia; the bottom half of Alberta and Saskatchewan; the bottom third of Manitoba; southern to eastern Ontario; the bottom third of Quebec; all of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island; and the island of Newfoundland.

Urban
Urban areas are those continuously built-up areas having a minimum population concentration of 1,000 persons and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometer.Footnote 3
Rural
Rural areas have concentrations or densities below a concentration of 1,000 persons and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometer.Footnote 3

FindingsFootnote 4

Across all provinces and territories, at least 1 in 5 youth and young adults experienced cyberbullying.

The prevalence of cyberbullying among youth was highest for those living in Nunavut and Nova Scotia.

Figure 2: Prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12 to 17, by province and territory of residence, 2019Footnote 5
Figure 2: Full data is available in the image description below and Table 2
Image description

Horizontal bar chart of the prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12-17, by province or territory of residence, in 2019.

Nunavut had the highest prevalence of cyberbullying at 35.2%EFootnote 6; followed by Nova Scotia at 33.7%; Northwest Territories at 30.2%; Newfoundland and Labrador at 29.5%; British Columbia at 28.6%; Alberta at 26.3%; New Brunswick at 26.2%; Prince Edward Island at 25.7%; Ontario at 24.9%; Saskatchewan at 23.0%; Yukon at 22.4%EFootnote 6; Manitoba at 21.2%; and Quebec at 20.0%.

Table 1: Prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12 to 17, by province and territory of residence, 2019Footnote 5
Province or Territory of residence Experienced cyberbullying
Nunavut 35.2%EFootnote 6
Nova Scotia 33.7%
Northwest Territories 30.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador 29.5%
British Columbia 28.6%
Alberta 26.3%
New Brunswick 26.2%
Prince Edward Island 25.7%
Ontario 24.9%
Saskatchewan 23.0%
Yukon 22.4%EFootnote 6
Manitoba 21.2%
Quebec 20.0%

The prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults was highest for those living in the Northwest Territories.

Figure 3: Prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults aged 18 to 29, by province and territory of residence, 2018Footnote 7
Figure 3: Full data is available in the image description below and Table 3
Image description

Horizontal bar chart of the prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults, aged 18-29, by province or territory of residence, in 2018.

The prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults by province or territory, in order from highest to lowest, is: Northwest Territories at 35.0%; Newfoundland and Labrador at 28.1%; Alberta at 26.6%; British Columbia at 25.8%; Ontario at 25.3%; New Brunswick at 25.2%; Nunavut at 25.0%; Nova Scotia at 24.5% Saskatchewan at 24.1%; Manitoba at 23.8%; Yukon at 23.7%; Quebec at 22.9%; and Prince Edward Island at 20.6%.

Table 2: Prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults aged 18 to 29, by province and territory of residence, 2018Footnote 7
Province or Territory of residence Experienced cyberbullying
Northwest Territories 35.0%
Newfoundland and Labrador 28.1%
Alberta 26.6%
British Columbia 25.8%
Ontario 25.3%
New Brunswick 25.2%
Nunavut 25.0%
Nova Scotia 24.5%
Saskatchewan 24.1%
Manitoba 23.8%
Yukon 23.7%
Quebec 22.9%
Prince Edward Island 20.6%

Indigenous youth and young adults in the northern category had a higher prevalence of cyberbullying than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

Figure 4: Prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12 to 17, by Indigenous identity, Northern/Southern Category, 2019Footnote 5
Figure 4: Full data is available in the image description below and Table 4
Image description

Horizontal bar chart showing the prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12 to 17, by Indigenous identity and Northern/Southern Category, in 2019.

A total of 27.6% of youth living in the Northern provinces or territories experienced cyberbullying, with 36.2% being Indigenous and 25.4% being non-Indigenous.

A total of 24.4% of youth living in the Southern provinces experienced cyberbullying, with 30.7% being Indigenous and 24.1% being non-Indigenous.

Table 3: Prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12 to 17, by Indigenous identity, Northern/Southern Category, 2019Footnote 5
Northern or Southern Category Non-Indigenous Indigenous Total
Northern provinces or territories 25.4% 36.2% 27.6%
Southern provinces 24.1% 30.7% 24.4%
Figure 5: Prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults aged 18 to 29, by Indigenous identity, Northern/Southern Category, 2018Footnote 7
Figure 5: Full data is available in the image description below and Table 5
Image description

Horizontal bar chart showing the prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults aged 18 to 29 who experienced cyberbullying, by Indigenous identity and Northern/Southern Category, in 2018.

A total of 25.4% of young adults living in the Northern provinces or territories experienced cyberbullying, with 45.4% being Indigenous and 18.9% being non-Indigenous.

A total of 24.9% of young adults living in the Southern provinces experienced cyberbullying, with 35.0% being Indigenous and 26.4% being non-Indigenous.

Table 4: Prevalence of cyberbullying among young adults aged 18 to 29, by Indigenous identity, Northern/Southern Category, 2018Footnote 7
Northern or Southern Category Non-Indigenous Indigenous Total
Northern provinces or territories 18.9% 45.4% 25.4%
Southern provinces 26.4% 35.0% 24.9%

Indigenous youth, no matter where they lived, had a higher prevalence of cyberbullying compared to non-Indigenous youth.

Among all youth, the prevalence of cyberbullying was highest for Indigenous youth living in the rural northern category.

Among only non-Indigenous youth, the prevalence of cyberbullying was highest for those living in the urban northern category.

Figure 6: Prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12 to 17, by Indigenous identity, Northern/Southern Category and Size of Population, 2019Footnote 5
Figure 6: Full data is available in the image description below and Table 6
Image description

Four horizontal bar charts of the prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12-17, by Indigenous identity, northern and southern residence, and size of population, in 2019.

The first horizontal bar chart is of the prevalence in population centres across northern provinces or territories. The total prevalence of cyberbullying among youth in those areas is 27.4%; Indigenous youth had a higher prevalence of cyberbullying at 32.7%EFootnote 6 compared to non-Indigenous youth at 26.4%.

The second horizontal bar chart is of the prevalence in population centres across southern provinces. The total prevalence of cyberbullying among youth in those areas is 24.5%. Indigenous youth had a higher prevalence of cyberbullying at 31.8% compared to non-Indigenous youth at 24.2%.

The third horizontal bar chart is of the prevalence in rural areas across northern provinces or territories. The total prevalence of cyberbullying among youth in those areas is 27.8%. Indigenous youth had a higher prevalence of cyberbullying at 39.4%EFootnote 6 compared to non-Indigenous youth at 23.7%.

The fourth horizontal bar chart is of the prevalence in rural areas across southern provinces. The total prevalence of cyberbullying among youth in those areas is 24.3%. Indigenous youth had a higher prevalence of cyberbullying at 27.7% compared to non-Indigenous youth at 24.0%.

Table 5: Prevalence of cyberbullying among youth aged 12 to 17, by Indigenous identity, Northern/Southern Category and Size of Population, 2019Footnote 5
Northern or Southern Category and Size of Population Non-Indigenous Indigenous Total
Northern province or territory / population centre 26.4% 32.7%EFootnote 6 27.4%
Southern provinces / population centre 24.2% 31.8% 24.5%
Northern province or territory / rural 23.7% 39.4%EFootnote 6 27.8%
Southern provinces / rural 24.0% 27.7% 24.3%

Conclusion

The prevalence of cyberbullying among youth and young adults in Canada varied when comparing by the location or Indigenous identity of those being cybervictimized. More research on the nature of cyberbullying experiences across Canada is needed to better understand the relationship between location and experiences of cyberbullying for youth and young adults.

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