COLUMBUS, Ohio — With more than half of U.S. teenagers reporting experiences of online harassment, mental health experts are sounding the alarm on the long-term emotional toll of cyberbullying.
In Columbus, high school student and Girl Scout Stella Rotz is sharing her story, hoping to shed light on how digital cruelty can affect teens both socially and psychologically.
About a year ago, Rotz began receiving hurtful text messages from someone she had considered a close friend.
“She started distancing herself and started texting me these weird things that you shouldn’t really text a friend,” Rotz said. “It was just really heartbreaking to hear these things coming from one of my closest friends and hearing her trying to turn everything against me.”
Rotz said the behavior escalated to gossip and lies spread among mutual friends.
“I was afraid that I would lose all my friends due to the lies and the gossip that was being spread,” she said.
Mental health experts say cyberbullying poses a unique risk because harmful messages can spread instantly and leave a lasting digital footprint.
Dr. Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said the emotional damage can be severe.
“Like traditional bullying, we know it can have an effect, but we know that it can be even worse or long-term effects because it lives on,” Bignall said.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital said cyberbullying can lead to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, social withdrawal, academic struggles, and in some cases, substance abuse or suicidal thoughts.
A survey by the Pew Research Center found that nearly half of teens say social media has a mostly negative effect on people their age.
Rotz said she leaned on her family and her Girl Scout troop for support — a group that also provides education on online safety and strategies for responding to cyberbullying.
Rotz said the experience made her realize she wasn’t alone. She also noted that cyberbullying has become so common among teens that it’s often seen as a normal part of growing up.
Bignall said that normalization is part of the problem, as it reinforces the idea that online cruelty is acceptable. She emphasized that intentionally causing harm to others should never be considered normal behavior.
Rotz said the experience taught her the importance of speaking up and relying on trusted people for support. She said having others reach out to check on her made a meaningful difference in her recovery.
Experts advise parents and teens to report cyberbullying directly through the platform where it occurs, alert school officials or coaches if peers are involved, and contact law enforcement if threats or harassment persist. They emphasize that early conversations about online behavior are critical for prevention and protecting emotional well-being.
