Posted by Robert Jordan on February 27, 2025
Bullying in the U.S.: A Deep Dive into the Numbers
Bullying isn’t just a playground problem—it’s a pervasive issue affecting kids across the United States, both in person and online. As someone who’s spent years advocating for safer environments through SiteSafetyNet.org, I’ve seen how bullying can disrupt lives, push parents to rethink schooling options, and spark debates about what schools should do to protect our kids. Today, I’m diving into nine key facts about bullying in the U.S., pulling from trusted sources like Pew Research Center surveys and federal data. Let’s unpack what’s happening—and why it matters.
-
Bullying Keeps Parents Up at Night
According to a Pew Research Center survey from fall 2022, about 35% of U.S. parents with kids under 18 are significantly or very worried their child might face bullying. Another 39% are somewhat concerned. That’s a whopping 74% of parents with this on their radar. In the survey, only one concern ranked higher than bullying: 40% of parents fretted more about their kids battling anxiety or depression. Bullying’s a top-tier worry—and for good reason.
-
Teens See Online Harassment as a Big Deal
Fast forward to spring 2022, and Pew asked teens ages 13-17 about online bullying. About 53% said cyberbullying and online harassment are a significant problem for people their age. Another 40% called it a minor problem, leaving just 6% shrugging it off entirely. Who’s most likely to see it as a crisis? Black and Hispanic teens, kids from lower-income homes, and teen girls. The digital world isn’t always a safe space—and they know it.
-
Nearly Half of Teens Have Been Cyberbullied
That same Pew survey found 46% of U.S. teens have faced at least one form of cyberbullying—like offensive name-calling (32%), false rumors (22%), or unwanted explicit images (17%). Some even deal with constant monitoring by someone other than a parent (15%), physical threats (10%), or having explicit images of themselves shared without consent (7%). For 28% of teens, it’s not just one incident—they’ve endured multiple types.
-
Older Teen Girls Bear the Brunt Online
Digging deeper, Pew’s data shows older teen girls (ages 15-17) are hit hardest by cyberbullying—54% have experienced it, compared to 44% of boys the same age and 41% of younger teens. They’re more likely to face false rumors, constant check-ins, or harassment tied to their looks (21% report this). It’s a stark reminder that gender and age can amplify vulnerability online.
-
Race Shapes Online Experiences
White, Black, and Hispanic teens all encounter cyberbullying, but the reasons differ. Pew found 21% of Black teens say they’ve been targeted online due to their race or ethnicity, compared to 11% of Hispanic teens and just 4% of White teens. Meanwhile, Hispanic teens are most likely to face relentless “where are you?” check-ins, and White teens report more false rumors. (Sample sizes for Asian American teens were too small to break out separately.)
-
One in Five Students Face In-Person Bullying
Switching gears to the classroom, federal data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) shows 22% of U.S. students ages 12-18 were bullied at school during the 2019-2020 year. For most, it wasn’t a one-off—32% faced it for a single day, but 29% endured it for 3-10 days. Girls, middle schoolers, and rural students were more likely to be targets, with rumors (15%) and insults (14%) topping the list of tactics.
-
Where Bullying Happens at School
Where does this play out? The BJS and NCES data pinpoints the classroom as the hotspot—47% of bullied students reported it happening there. Hallways or stairwells (39%), cafeterias (26%), and school grounds (20%) followed. It’s a sobering look at how no corner of a school is truly “safe” for some kids.
(Image suggestion: A pie chart showing bullying locations from the BJS/NCES data—classroom in the most significant slice, driving the point home visually.)
-
Kids Don’t Always Speak Up
Less than half (46%) of those bullied at school in 2019-2020 told an adult, per BJS and NCES. Younger kids (sixth to eighth graders) were more likely to report it—around 50% or more did—while only 28% of 12th graders spoke up. Frequency matters too: 60% of kids bullied over 10 days told someone, versus 35% after a single day. Silence can let bullying fester, a problem we can’t ignore.
-
LGBTQ+ Teens Face Double the Risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found in 2021 that high schoolers identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual were twice as likely as heterosexual peers to report bullying—both at school (22% vs. 10%) and online (27% vs. 11%). Questioning students or those identifying another way reported similar rates (21% at school, 23% online). (Transgender data wasn’t included.) It’s a glaring disparity that demands attention.
Why This Matters to Me—and You
At SiteSafetyNet.org, my mission is creating safer spaces online and offline. These stats—from Pew, BJS, NCES, and CDC—aren’t just numbers; they’re stories of kids facing real harm. Parents are worried, teens are struggling, and schools are scrambling. Whether it’s a rumor in the hallway or a threat online, bullying’s impact is undeniable. What can we do? Start by listening, reporting, and pushing for change—because no kid should feel unsafe.
What are your thoughts? Have you seen bullying affect someone you know? Please comment below—I’d love to hear from you.
Robert Jordan founded SiteSafetyNet.org, which promotes safety and accountability in schools, homes, and online spaces.
Understanding School Safety: Insights from Pew Research and Site|SafetyNet℠’s Innovative Solutions
