Off the radar and ubiquitous: text messaging and its relationship to ‘drama’ and cyberbullying in an affluent, academically rigorous US high school

This mixed methods study explores text messaging in a suburban US high school. Survey questions were answered by students (mean age 16.0; SD = 1.23) regarding the prevalence of bullying and victimization via text messaging. Students and staff members responded to a survey item regarding perceptions of hostile text messaging. Both students and staff members participated in interviews or focus groups where they discussed bullying, student peer interactions, and social conflict. Prevalence for text messaging that was viewed as bullying was considerably lower than other published rates. Female students perceived more hostile text messaging than male students. Analysis of qualitative data suggests that texting contributes to conflict and to a phenomenon called ‘drama,’ and that conflict or ‘drama’ may lead to bullying.