What Type of Cyberbullying Hurts the Most?

Insights from 160 Young People

Our lives are more online than ever and while digital spaces connect us, they also expose young people to toxic interactions that can leave long-term scars. To better understand the impact, the curaJOY Impact fellows conducted a anonymous survey asking youth:

“Which type of cyberbullying do you find the most concerning?”

Here’s what they told us.

The Most Concerning Types of Cyberbullying

• Visual Violence (40.7%) – Posting or sharing offensive, embarrassing, or inappropriate photos/videos without consent.

• Verbal Violence (28.9%) – Mocking, insults, threats, and online harassment.

• Cyber Gossip (21.5%) – Rumor-spreading or sharing private information with intent to harm.

• Exclusion (5.9%) – Deliberately preventing someone from joining groups or creating groups against them.

• Other (3%) – Impersonation was the most common “other” response, with students naming it as especially destructive.

  Why They Chose These

  The follow-up question asked why they considered their chosen category the most concerning. Their answers were powerful and deeply personal.

  On Visual Violence:

  “Visual violence has a uniquely damaging impact because once an image or video is shared online, it becomes nearly impossible to remove. Unlike verbal insults or rumors, visual content can be reposted, downloaded, or altered indefinitely, giving the harm a permanent life.”

  On Verbal Violence:

  “Verbal violence is the most concerning because it directly attacks self-esteem. Words can stay in someone’s mind long after they’re spoken, creating lasting anxiety and depression. Online, it feels like there’s no escape—even at home.”

  A 17-year-old also shared:

  “I was a victim of verbal cyberbullying at 15 from a friend. Two years later, the damage still sticks with me.”

  On Cyber Gossip:

  “Cyber gossip is the fastest way to ruin someone’s reputation. Even if the rumor is false, people stigmatize you, and it can take years to heal.”

  Another added:

  “It’s like a combination of both visual and verbal violence. Whether you’re guilty or innocent, you can’t control how people view you—and that can destroy friendships and confidence.”

  On Impersonation:

  “Impersonation is terrifying because someone can create a fake account, pretend to be you, and completely destroy your reputation. It’s hard to stop since fake accounts can be made quickly. The victim feels unsafe and helpless.”

  On Sexism (Real-Life Example):

  One participant shared how sexism fueled cyberbullying when she commented on an NBA match:

  “A friend rushed to my DMs and told me to ‘go to the kitchen.’ I was hurt not because of his opinion, but because he was supposed to be a friend. Eventually, I stopped posting sports content. This kind of cyberbullying can lead to inferiority complex, depression, or even PTSD.”

  What This Tells Us

  The responses underline a crucial truth: cyberbullying is not one-size-fits-all. Each form—whether visual, verbal, gossip, impersonation, or exclusion—cuts deeply in different ways.

  • Visual violence is feared because it’s permanent and public.

  • Verbal violence lingers because words don’t fade easily.

  • Cyber gossip destroys because it spreads fast and feels uncontrollable.

  • Impersonation terrifies because it robs victims of their identity.

  And behind every statistic lies a real story of hurt, betrayal, and silence.

  Key Takeaway

  If schools, parents, and online platforms want to protect young people, they must go beyond general “anti-bullying” campaigns. Youth are telling us exactly what hurts most and why. The next step is designing interventions that directly address these forms of harm while creating safe spaces for young people to speak up and heal.

  That’s exactly what curaJOY Impact Fellows are working on—developing programs, tools, and conversations that center youth voices, not just adult assumptions. By listening first and acting with young people, not just for them, we can build systems that actually work.