Simply having a social media profile does not make teens more likely to be bullied online. Demographics and online behavior play a larger role

For many, the internet and social media is a double edged sword. On one hand it can bring people together to socialize, discuss, and collaborate in ways unthinkable mere decades ago. On the other, it can expose us to abuse and harassment from complete and often anonymous strangers, with teenagers especially at risk. But does having a social media profile make it more likely that teenagers will be harassed online? Using national survey data of teenagers and their parents, Anirban Sengupta and Anoshua Chaudhuri find that demographic and behavioral characteristics of teenagers are stronger predictors of online abuse than simply having an online profile. They find that girls and those who post large amounts of personal information online are more prone to online harassment.