AN INVESTIGATION ON THE PREVALENCE OF CYBERBULLYING AMONGST UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies are widely regarded as crucial enablers to communities and
individuals to filter and manage information that is of interest to them. Hence, academic institutions provide
students with access to the Internet. However, research has established that there is a negative side to this
access such as Cyber bullying. Whilst numerous studies discuss the use of social media and bullying
amongst the youth in Botswana, no study was found that investigated the prevalence of Cyber bullying
amongst undergraduate students in the University of Botswana. It is in recognition of the dearth of
information on this phenomenon that this study investigated the prevalence of Cyber bullying amongst
undergraduate students of the University of Botswana. Furthermore, this study investigated students’
involvement in collective or group cyber bullying against individuals or organizations and the reasons for
partaking in such. This exploratory study adopted a critical interpretivist approach and the research data
was obtained through semi structured interviews with undergraduate students in the University of
Botswana. The findings of the study show that Cyber bullying is prevalent amongst undergraduate students.
It is hoped that tertiary institutions will in light of the research findings, develop strategies to mitigate the
antisocial behavior.