Types of Cyberbullying Experienced on Facebook by Undergraduate Students in Kenyan Universities

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying meted out online using digital devices and platforms. This study investigated the types of cyberbullying undergraduate students in Kenyan universities experience. Specifically, it sought to determine the students' presence on Facebook, establish how the students used Facebook, identify the types of cyberbullying they experienced, and recommend strategies of mitigating cyberbullying as a means of making Facebook safer for undergraduate students in Kenya. The study was conducted using mixed research methods. Data was collected from 4770 undergraduate students and 24 deans of students in 16 public and 8 private chartered universities in Kenya. Quantitative data was collected from the students' using questionnaires while qualitative data was collected from students using focus group discussions and deans of students using key informant interviews. Quantitative data was analysed statistically using STATA while qualitative data was analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti. The findings of the study confirm the popularity of Facebook among undergraduate students in Kenya. Students use the platform mainly for dating, business, academics and politics. The main types of cyberbullying experienced by the students on Facebook include shaming, impersonation, blackmail, exposure and cyberstalking. In dealing with cyberbullying, university authorities should create awareness about the vice among their students; the affected students should be counselled to overcome the effects of cyberbullying; and students should be advised to be vigilant in cyberspace. The findings of this study may be applied by universities to develop a students' support service model that makes it easy to detect and mitigate cyberbullying.