Masters study explores social media bullying in schools

Mr Sphelele Myeni, a teacher from a rural school, has turned his first-hand experiences of social media bullying among pupils into a ground-breaking masters study, examining whether online harassment in rural schools mirrors the dynamics found in urban environments.

Myeni’s research has revealed troubling insights into the perception and handling of social media bullying in rural schools, with learners often downplaying its seriousness.

“My interest was sparked by witnessing conflict between learners caused by online bullying,” Myeni explained. His study found that incidents like impersonation and trolling on platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp were not viewed by rural learners as serious enough to report to school authorities or the police.

One case particularly struck Myeni: “A pupil was targeted online after excelling in a mathematics test. Other learners, driven by jealousy, used social media to abuse her. It made me realise that even success can provoke bullying online.”

The study further uncovered that jealousy and boredom were often the primary motivators behind online harassment, with many rural learners using social media as a platform to humiliate their peers.

“Although this isn't entirely unique to rural schools, it was alarming to see how widespread and accepted it was,” Myeni said.

He noted that many rural school policies do not adequately address social media bullying, which leaves educators and students without clear guidelines on how to handle such cases.

Myeni stressed the urgent need for strategies and interventions to tackle this issue, arguing that rural schools are not giving it the attention it deserves. He believes the Department of Education should take a stronger stance by implementing policies that directly address social media bullying and provide educators with the necessary training to respond effectively.

“I believe learners must also be encouraged to participate in discussions, presentations, and other programmes on the harmful effects of social media bullying,” Myeni added.

A key difference between rural and urban learners emerged in Myeni’s research. While rural learners often struggle to access mental health services like psychologists or social workers due to the distance between schools and healthcare facilities, urban learners are more likely to seek help from nearby clinics or police stations when they experience social media harassment. This disparity highlights the need for better support systems in rural areas.

Myeni’s supervisor, Professor Dipane Hlalele, highlighted the unintended consequences of technological advancements: “While technology is intended to improve lives, we are also witnessing its darker side, as seen in these cases of social media bullying.”

Describing his research as an eye-opener, Myeni emphasized the importance of digital literacy for both learners and educators in rural schools. He believes that students should be taught online safety measures to help protect themselves from the potential dangers of social media. Myeni also acknowledged that there are deeper, underlying issues affecting rural school learners that require further investigation.

Myeni graduated with a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus on Thursday. His research sheds new light on a significant and growing problem in South Africa’s rural schools.