Online Media Characteristics of Cyberbullying: A Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT

Cyberbullying has emerged as a prominent form of online aggression, yet evidence on the role of online media remains fragmented because media‐related variables are often treated as broad and undifferentiated constructs. This meta‐analysis synthesized associations between six characteristics of online media use and cyberbullying perpetration. A systematic search of international databases identified 97 eligible studies published between 2004 and 2025, comprising 248,316 participants. Random‐effects models were used to estimate pooled correlations, and moderator analyses examined cultural background and temporal patterns of content exposure. Five of the six focal variables were significantly associated with cyberbullying perpetration. Exposure to online violent content, exposure to online sexually explicit content, duration of online media use, and perceived online anonymity were positively associated with cyberbullying, whereas media literacy was negatively associated with it. Among these variables, perceived online anonymity showed the strongest association. By contrast, exposure to online prosocial content was not significantly associated with cyberbullying. Moderator analyses indicated that temporal pattern significantly moderated the association between exposure to online violent content and cyberbullying, with stronger coefficients for short‐term than for long‐term exposure. Most other subgroup differences were not significant. Sensitivity analyses showed that, despite substantial heterogeneity in most models, the overall pattern of findings remained stable. These findings suggest that online media should not be treated as a unitary correlate of cyberbullying. Distinguishing specific media characteristics may help refine theory and inform more targeted prevention efforts in online contexts.