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An alarming number of early adolescents between the ages of 11 and 14 report experiencing cyber-victimization (i.e., bullying that occurs online or via technology). Although research has demonstrated that spending more time on social media can increase the likelihood of cyber-victimization, less research has examined how adolescents are using social media. For example, the conflicts and problems that can arise from social media use may also increase vulnerability to cyber-victimization. The current study examined this association between problematic social media use and conflict (PSMUC) and cyber-victimization among a sample of early adolescents. Also, guided by the Social Information Processing model, the current study examined the indirect effect of social stress (i.e., feelings of isolation and social exclusion) in the association between PSMUC and cyber-victimization. Adolescents (N = 316) participated during the spring of sixth grade from a large public middle school in the Midwestern United States. Assessments included measures of PSMUC, cyber-victimization, and social stress. Using structural equation modeling, results indicated that PSMUC was associated with higher levels of cyber-victimization via higher levels of social stress. These findings indicate that social stress is an important mechanism to consider in the relationship between PSMUC and cyber-victimization experiences among early adolescents. Implications for prevention and intervention programs, as well as future research directions, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on adolescents' mental health and social interactions; however, little is known about cyber-victimization and mental health concerns from before to during the pandemic. The current study addressed this gap, while also examining how social media use and disagreements with friends during the pandemic were associated with cyber-victimization and mental health outcomes. Participants included 272 youth in the U.S. (56% female; 32% White), surveyed in fall 2019 (Mage = 11.75, SD = 0.68) and spring 2021 (Mage = 13.11, SD = 0.75). Adolescents reported increases in mental health symptoms and decreases in cyber-victimization. Experiencing more cyber-victimization before the pandemic was associated with significant increases in anxiety, depression, and social stress. The results suggest bolstering violence prevention programming in schools to reduce the likelihood of cyber-victimization and associated mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]