Iowa State professor studies cyberbullying of gay and lesbian teens
"There's a saying that we’ve now changed to read, 'Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can kill,'" said Warren Blumenfeld, an Iowa State assistant professor of curriculum and instruction and the [cyberbullying] study's lead author.
"Especially at this age, this is a time when peer influences are paramount in a young person's life. If one is ostracized and attacked, that can have devastating consequences — not only physically, but on their emotional health for the rest of their lives."
In the online survey of 444 junior high, high school and college students between the ages of 11 and 22 — including 350 self-identified non-heterosexual subjects — 54 percent of the LGBT and allied youth reported being victims of cyberbullying in the 30 days prior to the survey.
Cyberbullying includes attacks such as electronic distribution of humiliating photos, dissemination of false or private information, or targeting victims in cruel online polls.
