Bullying is way down in schools — but nobody seems to realize it

pulse

May 11, 2017 6:24 PM

A new study suggests people's growing fears over bullying may be unfounded, as 10 years of data show rates are actually on the decline.

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The rise of Internet-connected mobile devices has many parents worried for their kids' online safety. Not only could they face harassment in the hallways at school, but they could deal with it in cyberspace, too.

A new study should assuage those fears.

Published in the journal Pediatrics, the study of nearly 250,000 American kids in 4th to 12th grade found rates of bullying both in-person and online was cut nearly in half between 2005 and 2014.

In 2005, 28.5% of kids in one Maryland school said they experienced at least one form of bullying. By 2014, the rate had fallen to 13.4%.

The study also found students weren't aware of the decline. In 2005, half of the students said bullying was a serious problem at their school. A decade later, the new crop of kids still felt similarly. So while 13.4% is still concerning, the researchers did find bullying seemed like a much bigger deal than it really was.

This was important for the researchers because it suggested schools may not realize the progress they're making in getting rid of bullying. Without an awareness of the progress, they can't know how to ensure they stay on the right path.

realize the world actually isn't so mean, perhaps they'll be less likely to be mean themselves.

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