Examining the relationship between cyberbullying roles and internet addiction / cyberbullying sensitivity

In today's world, the use of information and communication technologies has significantly increased. Alongside the positive aspects of technological advancements and increased internet usage, there are also negative aspects. Cyberbullying is defined as malicious and harmful behavior that involves intentional and repetitive threats, insults, profanity, or harassment towards individuals or groups using information and communication technology tools. In this study, the relationship between cyberbullying roles, internet addiction, and cyberbullying sensitivity was examined as intended. The data collection process, which began on January 24, 2023, ended on May 20, 2023, and data collection tools including the Informed Consent Form, Personal Information Form, Cyberbullying Triangle Scale (Özdemir and Bektaş, 2021), Young Internet Addiction Test - Short Form (Kutlu, Savcı, Demir and Aysan, 2016), and Cyberbullying Sensitivity Scale (Tanrıkulu, Kınay and Arıcak, 2013), were delivered to participants via the internet. The sample of the study consists of 508 individuals aged between 18 and 74 who are internet users. Analyses conducted using the Cyberbullying Triangle Scale reveal that 58.7% of the participants did not engage in cyberbullying. Following this, 18.1% identified as cyber bystanders, while the least common cyberbullying role observed was that of the cyber victim-bully, accounting for only 0.4%. Participants who identified as cyber bystanders, cyber victim-bystanders, cyber bullies-bystanders, and cyber victim-bullies-bystanders indicated that they witnessed cyberbullying but chose to do nothing and ignored it. Participants' marital and educational statuses are significantly associated with cyber victimization, cyberbullying, cyber bystander behavior, internet addiction, and cyberbullying sensitivity. In comparison to men, women tend to exhibit less cyberbullying behavior, more internet addiction, and greater sensitivity to cyberbullying. However, there is no significant difference between gender and cyber victimization or cyber bystander behavior. Regarding participants' ages, employment statuses, and daily internet usage durations, there is a significant relationship with cyber victimization, cyberbullying, cyber bystander behavior, and internet addiction, while there is no significant difference between age, employment status, and daily internet usage duration and cyberbullying sensitivity. Participants' monthly incomes are significantly related to cyberbullying, cyber bystander behavior, and internet addiction, while there is no significant difference between monthly income and cyber victimization or cyberbullying sensitivity. Furthermore, participants' living arrangements are significantly associated with cyber victimization, cyber bystander behavior, and internet addiction, while there is no significant difference between living arrangements and cyberbullying or cyberbullying sensitivity. Participants who have social media accounts in their own names are less likely to experience cyber victimization, engage in cyberbullying, act as cyber bystanders, or exhibit internet addiction compared to those with anonymous accounts. Conversely, participants who portray themselves differently online experience more cyber victimization, engage in cyberbullying, act as cyber bystanders, and exhibit internet addiction, but they are less sensitive to cyberbullying. Moreover, participants who were previously familiar with the concept of cyberbullying exhibit more cyber victimization, cyberbullying, cyber bystander behavior, internet addiction, and sensitivity to cyberbullying compared to those who were not familiar with it. According to the findings, there is a moderate level of positive and significant relationship between cyber victimization and internet addiction, while there is no significant difference between cyber victimization and sensitivity to cyberbullying. It is concluded that there is a weak level of positive and significant relationship between cyberbullying and internet addiction, whereas there is a weak level of negative and significant relationship between cyberbullying and sensitivity to cyberbullying. Furthermore, there is a weak level of positive and significant relationship between cyber bystander behavior and internet addiction, while there is no significant difference between cyber bystander behavior and sensitivity to cyberbullying. Additionally, there is a weak level of positive and significant relationship between internet addiction and sensitivity to cyberbullying. Moreover, a moderate level of positive and significant relationship is found between cyber victimization and cyberbullying, between cyber victimization and cyber bystander behavior, and between cyberbullying and cyber bystander behavior. In studies addressing cyberbullying, which has become a global health issue, it is recommended to work with broad sample groups similar to the one used in this study rather than specific sample groups. It is crucial for families, schools, teachers, and society to be informed and educated about cyberbullying and internet addiction in order to effectively deal with these issues.