Philippine E-Journals

When Adolescents are Bullied on Facebook: Examining its Association with Social Connectedness

Mark Jayson V. Tamayo | Hazel S. Martinez

 

Abstract:

Facebook can be a platform for boosting adolescents’ development of social skills that are essential to their adjustment in adulthood. However, hostile Facebook interaction can weaken the social connectedness of adolescents, which is the most important protective factor in positive youth development (Townsend & McWhirter, 2005). The purpose of this study was to investigate the forms of Facebook bully victimization and if these were negatively related to adolescents’ social connectedness. A total of 312 adolescents aged 17 to 19 answered the survey questionnaires on seven forms of Facebook bully victimization and social connectedness. Results revealed that outing and trolling were experienced usually, while masquerading, cyberstalking, catfishing, fraping, and exclusion were experienced sometimes. Cyberstalking (β=-.47), exclusion (β=-.20), masquerading (β=-.20), outing (β=-.25), and trolling (β=-.15) negatively predicted social connectedness, but catfishing (β=-.05) and fraping (β=- .02) did not, F(7,311, adjusted R2=.72, p<.001). Results are discussed with emphasis on Filipino adolescents’ vulnerability to all forms of Facebook bully victimization in their social-ecological contexts. Implications for school services, programs, and future research are also discussed.