Boston University sociologist Sarah Miller spent two years embedded in a rural Northeastern high school, observing how teenagers experience bullying in the social media age. Her research became the foundation for her book, The Tolerance Generation: Growing Up Online in the Anti-Bullying Era (University of Chicago Press, 2026).

Key Findings

Miller discovered that by high school, teens had learned to bully in subtle ways—subtweets, ghosting, spreading rumors, and inside jokes—that adults often don’t recognize. “Adults were looking for direct, targeted behavior, while teens were experiencing something much more subtle, systematic, and much harder to detect.”

Marginalized students, including LGBTQ+ youth, gender nonconforming students, and racial minorities, experienced the most harm, though it often went unrecognized by adults.

Social Media as Support Tool

Contrary to common narratives, Miller found social media functioned as a powerful support network. When a student posted homophobic content, hundreds responded with educational resources and messages of solidarity, helping closeted LGBTQ+ students feel safer coming out.

Anti-Bullying Initiatives

Despite 15 years of national anti-bullying laws and widespread programming, bullying rates haven’t significantly declined. Miller argues effective approaches must address underlying inequalities rather than focusing solely on bystander intervention.

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Institution: Boston University
Publication Date: 2-Sep-2026

Source: EurekAlert. Featured image credit: Photo by George Milton on Pexels.com