Date on Senior Honors Thesis

5-2026

Document Type

Senior Thesis

Degree Name

B.S.

Department

Criminal Justice

Degree Program

College of Arts and Sciences

Committee Chair

Katie Hughes-Taylor

Committee Member

George Higgins

Committee Member

Jasmine Wang

Author's Keywords

Cyberbullying; TikTok; Social Media; Adolescents; Online Disinhibition; Casual Cyberbullying

Abstract

TikTok has rapidly become a pivotal part of adolescents' lives, and arguably one of the most influential social media platforms by creating unique patterns of communication and interaction. This short-video format platform has a uniquely designed, algorithm-driven “For You Page”, as well as a distinct environment for interaction and comment culture.

With the rise of popularity around TikTok, cyberbullying has also emerged as a significant concern (Guimetti, 2022). This thesis aims to conduct a systematic literature review of existing studies on TikTok usage and cyberbullying to determine whether or not there is a significant positive correlation between the two.

This study will compile and analyze peer-reviewed research, considering variables such as user demographics, engagement/frequency, and forms of cyberbullying. This research aims to fill gaps in the current literature available, inform prevention strategies, and provide a foundation to better understand and address the risks of TikTok interaction.

The term exposure, in this context, refers to the adolescents experiencing, committing, or seeing cyberbullying comments, videos, or messages (Hamer, 2014).

By combining outcomes and examining methodology of previous studies, this study intends to find a positive correlation that increased usage of TikTok leads to more exposure to and engagement in cyberbullying.

Lay Summary

This study looks at how using TikTok may be connected to cyberbullying among teenagers. TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms for young people.  It's algorithm, comment sections, and ability to quickly share videos, creates a unique online environment.

By reviewing existing research, this study found that the more time adolescents spend on TikTok, the more likely they are to see cyberbullying, such as mean comments, harassment, or mocking behavior. However, simply spending more time on the app does not always mean they will participate in cyberbullying themselves.

Instead, participation is more strongly influenced by what users are exposed to, especially negative or harmful content, and features like anonymity, which can make people feel more comfortable saying things online that they would not say in person. Over time, repeated exposure to this type of behavior may make it seem normal or acceptable, especially when others respond positively or do not challenge it.

Overall, this study suggests that TikTok can contribute to the spread and normalization of cyberbullying, even if most users are not actively participating in it. These findings highlight the importance of improving education, parental awareness, and platform moderation to help reduce harmful online behavior among adolescents

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