Mapping the Landscape of Social Media Cyberbullying Research: A Scopus Bibliometric Study

International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering

© 2025 by SSRG - IJECE Journal

Volume 12 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Ikra Mohamed Gedi, Abdulwahab Osman Sheikhdon, Ali Olow Jimale, Mohamed Ali Omar

10.14445/23488549/IJECE-V12I3P102

How to Cite?

Ikra Mohamed Gedi, Abdulwahab Osman Sheikhdon, Ali Olow Jimale, Mohamed Ali Omar, "Mapping the Landscape of Social Media Cyberbullying Research: A Scopus Bibliometric Study," SSRG International Journal of Electronics and Communication Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 3, pp. 12-20, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488549/IJECE-V12I3P102

Abstract:

The rapid adoption of social media has reshaped interactions and contributed to the general issue of cyberbullying, defined as electronic harassment or intimidation. This study provides a bibliometric review of studies conducted between 2012 and 2024 on cyberbullying on social media, with the aim of mapping trends, identifying influential contributors, and assessing the impact of various publications in the field. A total of 207 publications from the Scopus database were analyzed using VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel to identify publication trends, perform citation analysis, and assess country-specific contributions. The results indicate a steady increase in publications, peaking in 2023, but with a decline in average citations per publication from 2021 to 2023, suggesting a potential shift in research focus or quality. The United States was the top contributor, with the most publications (35) and citations (1,152), while countries like Canada and Australia, despite fewer publications, demonstrated high citation rates in the field. Analysis of keywords revealed a growing focus on machine learning and classification techniques in understanding cyberbullying. The most influential sources included Lecture Notes in Computer Science and IEEE Access, both playing pivotal roles in disseminating high-impact research. Notably, key authors such as Robin M. Kowalski and Mark D. Griffiths have significantly shaped the field. This research highlights the need for high-quality, interdisciplinary research to tackle the evolving challenges of cyberbullying, with implications for both academic scholarship and policy development. Future research should aim to diversify data sources and incorporate qualitative analyses to enhance the understanding of cyberbullying's complex dynamics.

Keywords:

Social media, Cyberbullying, Computer crime, VOSviewer, Digital victimization.

References:

[1] María J. González-Moreno, Cristina Cuenca-Piqueras, and Juan S. Fernández-Prados, “Cyberbullying and Education: State of the Art and Bibliometric Analysis,” Proceedings of the 2020 8th International Conference on Information and Education Technology, Okayama Japan, pp. 191-195, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Raphael Cohen-Almagor, “Social Responsibility on the Internet: Addressing the Challenge of Cyberbullying,” Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 39, pp. 42-52, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Jacek Pyżalski, “From Cyberbullying to Electronic Aggression: Typology of the Phenomenon,” Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, vol. 17, no. 3-4, pp. 305-317, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] Viktor Schønning et al., “Social Media Use and Mental Health and Well-Being among Adolescents – A Scoping Review,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 11, pp. 1-15, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Michele P. Hamm et al., “Prevalence and Effect of Cyberbullying on Children and Young People,” JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 169, no. 8, pp. 770-777, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Morgan Lancaster, “A Systematic Research Synthesis on Cyberbullying Interventions in the United States,” Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, vol. 21, no. 10, pp. 593-602, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Peter Weingart, “Impact of Bibliometrics upon the Science System: Inadvertent Consequences?,” Scientometrics, vol. 62, pp. 117-131, 2005.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Suhans Bansal et al., “Cyberbullying and Mental Health: Past, Present and Future,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, pp. 1-19, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Daniela Maria Cretu, and Felicia Morandau, “Bullying and Cyberbullying: A Bibliometric Analysis of Three Decades of Research in Education,” Educational Review, vol. 76, no. 2, pp. 371-404, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[10] Ángel Denche-Zamorano et al., “Science Mapping: A Bibliometric Analysis on Cyberbullying and the Psychological Dimensions of the Self,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 1-14, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Ana Belén Barragán Martín et al., “Study of Cyberbullying among Adolescents in Recent Years: A Bibliometric Analysis,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1-11, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] H.F. Moed, R.E. De Bruin, and Th.N. Van Leeuwen, “New Bibliometric Tools for the Assessment of National Research Performance: Database Description, Overview of Indicators and First Applications,” Scientometrics, vol. 33, pp. 381-422, 1995.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] Dennis F. Thompson, and Cheri K. Walker, “A Descriptive and Historical Review of Bibliometrics with Applications to Medical Sciences,” Pharmacotherapy, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 551-559, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] Ole Ellegaard, and Johan A. Wallin, “The Bibliometric Analysis of Scholarly Production: How Great is the Impact?,” Scientometrics, vol. 105, pp. 1809-1831, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Philippe Mongeon, and Adèle Paul-Hus, “The Journal Coverage of Web of Science and Scopus: A Comparative Analysis,” Scientometrics, vol. 106, pp. 213-228, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] Mehmet Ali Koseoglu et al., “Bibliometric Studies in Tourism,” Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 61, pp. 180-198, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] José A. Moral-Muñoz et al., “Software Tools for Conducting Bibliometric Analysis in Science: An Up-to-Date Review,” Information Professional, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 1-20, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Shashidhar Kaparthi, “A Bibliometric Analysis,” Journal of Decision Systems, vol. 14, no. 1-2, pp. 157-177, 2005.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Kirti Goyal, and Satish Kumar, “Financial Literacy: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis,” International Journal of Consumer Studies, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 80-105, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Naveen Donthu et al., “How to Conduct a Bibliometric Analysis: An Overview and Guidelines,” Journal of Business Research, vol. 133, pp. 285-296, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] Mairéad Foody, Muthanna Samara, and Per Carlbring, “A Review of Cyberbullying and Suggestions for Online Psychological Therapy,” Internet Interventions, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 235-242, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] Josélia Mafalda Ribeiro da Fonseca, and Maria Teresa Borges-Tiago, Cyberbullying from a Research Viewpoint: A Bibliometric Approach, Handbook of Research on Cyber Crime and Information Privacy, pp. 182-200, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[23] Huong Thi Ngoc Ho, and Hai Thanh Luong, “Research Trends in Cybercrime Victimization during 2010-2020: A Bibliometric Analysis,” SN Social Sciences, vol. 2, pp. 1-32, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[24] Yun Jin Kim, Linchao Qian, and Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, “Bibliometric Analysis on Workplace Cyberbullying: Study Protocol,” F1000Research, vol. 10, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[25] Abu Naser Mohammad Saif, and Audrika Eshna Purbasha, “Cyberbullying among Youth in Developing Countries: A Qualitative Systematic Review with Bibliometric Analysis,” Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 146, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[26] Emma Louise Anderson, Eloisa Steen, and Vasileios Stavropoulos, “Internet Use and Problematic Internet Use: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Research Trends in Adolescence and Emergent Adulthood,” International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 430-454, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[27] Lutz Bornmann, and Rüdiger Mutz, “Growth Rates of Modern Science: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on the Number of Publications and Cited References,” Journal of The Association Information Science Technology, vol. 66, no. 11, pp. 2215-2222, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[28] Jeppe Nicolaisen, and Tove Faber Frandsen, “Bibliometric Evolution: Is the Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology Transforming into a Specialty Journal?,” Journal of The Association Information Science Technology, vol. 66, no. 5, pp. 1082-1085, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[29] Ludo Waltman et al., “Some Modifications to the SNIP Journal Impact Indicator,” Journal of Informetrics, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 272-285, 2013.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[30] Husein Osman Abdullahi et al., “A Bibliometric Analysis of the Evolution of IoT Applications in Smart Agriculture,” International Information and Engineering Technology Association, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 1495-1504, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]