Dr. Sameer Hinduja - Bullying and Cyberbullying Speaker, Social Media Safety Expert, Researcher, and Author

WHAT'S NEW

RECENT MEDIA MENTIONS

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Social Media, Youth, and New Legislation: The Most Critical Components

In my last piece, I discussed how some legislation in various US states has been proposed without careful consideration of the contributing factors of internalized and externalized harm among youth. More specifically, I expressed concern that the complexities surrounding why youth struggle emotionally and psychologically demand more than simplistic, largely unenforceable solutions. We recognize that…

State Laws, Social Media Bans, and Youth: What Are We Doing?

There has been a flurry of activity related to new legislation intending to make social media and gaming platforms safer and more accountable to upholding expected standards of trust, security, transparency, and privacy. These laws are being proposed because of continued concern of possible ill effects of popular platforms on the well-being of young people.…

Harassment in TikTok Comments: A Pilot Test of the TikTok Research API

In the Spring of 2023, TikTok released a Research API to academic researchers in the United States in an effort to “enhance transparency with the research community” and “stay accountable to how we moderate and recommend content.”1 According to their documentation, approved access allows for the retrieval of: • Public account data, such as user…

Generative AI Risks and Harms – The Role of Platforms and Users

Generative AI is revolutionizing the way that content is created as user-friendly tools have made their way into the hands of the masses around the world. The possibilities seem endless, and their application may impact almost every sector of society. Since the beginning of time, though, every novel technology suffused with promise also provides an…

Generative AI as a Vector for Harassment and Harm

As a social science researcher studying trust and safety on online platforms, it is critical to think through potential risks and negative impacts associated with the use of generative AI technologies. To be sure, its potential is incredible – and will benefit societal members in almost limitless ways. In this environment of giddy euphoria about…

A Teen’s View of Social Media in 2023

I met Amelia when speaking at a high school in Central Florida, and was struck by her wide-angle view on the impact of social media in her life, and in the lives of her peers. I thought our readers could learn a lot from her insights, and so I asked her to provide this year’s…

How Media Literacy Can Prevent Online Harm

Youth are accessing a remarkable number of mediums (often at the same time!), and are constantly exposed to a wide and deep array of content. This spans the gamut from texts and notifications, to TikTok videos and Snap(chat) stories, to Twitter Spaces and Discord chats. This tidal wave of content is not going to ebb.…

Can Empathy Reduce Cyberbullying Based on Race or Religion?

I have been increasingly concerned about rising levels of hate speech, hate crimes, racist bullying, and xenophobia – especially when considering how these behaviors online are linked to violence offline against marginalized groups. It isn’t just alarming, it’s frightening – especially being a minority and considering what my children may have to deal with while…

Child Grooming and the Metaverse – Issues and Solutions

Arguably one of the biggest concerns of the metaverse, especially to law enforcement, parents, guardians, and caregivers of children, is the potential for pedophilia, online grooming, and child sexual exploitation. To be sure, the media is quick to focus on this hazard with any new environment (offline or online) that allows for adults and youth…

A Teen’s View of Social Media in 2022

Hey all, let me introduce you to Emily, a student I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with over the past year. I asked her to give you all an updated perspective on how she (and her peers) are using the most popular apps out there, and provide some self-reflective observations that can clue you into…

TESTIMONIALS

VITAE

RESEARCH INTERESTS

youth and tech, cyberbullying, social media, gaming, generative AI harms, metaverse trust and safety, big data analytics to study UGC on platforms, sexting, digital dating abuse, content moderation, hate speech, threats

BOOKS

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2024). Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications (Corwin Press). 3rd Edition. ISBN: 1071916564.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2016). Bullying Today: Bulletpoints and Best Practices. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications (Corwin Press). ISBN: 978-1-5063-3597-1.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2015). Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications (Corwin Press). 2nd Edition. ISBN: 1483349934.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2014). Words Wound: Delete Cyberbullying and Make Kindness Go Viral. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing. ISBN: 978-1575424514.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2014). A Leader Guide to Words Wound. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2012). School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications (Corwin Press). ISBN: 1412997836.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2012). Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives. New York: Routledge. ISBN: 0415892376.

Hinduja, S. (2006). Music Piracy and Crime Theory. New York: LFB Scholarly, Inc. ISBN: 1593321244.

SELECTED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2023). Cyberbullying Among Asian American Youth Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of School Health. Impact Factor: 2.460.

Patchin, J. W., Hinduja, S., & Meldrum, R. C. (2022). Digital Self-Harm and Suicidality Among Adolescents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Impact Factor: 2.175.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2022). Bias-Based Cyberbullying Among Early Adolescents: Associations with Cognitive and Affective Empathy. Journal of Early Adolescence, 42 (9) 1204–1235. Impact Factor: 2.477.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2022). Bullying and Cyberbullying Offending: The Influence of Six Parenting Dimensions Among US Youth. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31, 1454-1473. Impact Factor: 2.278.

Meldrum, R. C., Young, J. Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2021). Bullying Victimization, Negative Emotions, and Digital Self-Harm: Testing a Theoretical Model of Indirect Effects. Deviant Behavior, 43 (3), 303-321. Impact Factor: 1.982.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2021). Cyberbullying Among Tweens in the United States: Prevalence, Impact, and Helping Behaviors. Journal of Early Adolescence, 42 (3), 414-430. Impact Factor: 2.771.

Lee, C., Patchin, J. W., Hinduja, S., Dischinger, A. (2020). Bullying and Delinquency: The Impact of Anger and Frustration. Violence and Victims, 35 (4), 503-523. Journal Impact Factor: 1.393.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2020). Digital Dating Abuse Among a National Sample of U.S. Youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36 (23-24), 11088-11108. Impact Factor: 3.064.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2020). It’s Time to Teach Safe Sexting. Journal of Adolescent Health, 66 (2), 140-143. Journal Impact Factor: 4.021.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2019). The Nature and Extent of Sexting Among Middle and High School Students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48, 2333-2343. Impact Factor: 3.223

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2018). Sextortion Among Adolescents: Results from a National Survey of U.S. Youth. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 32 (1), 30-54. Impact Factor: 4.195.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2018). Connecting Adolescent Suicide to the Severity of Bullying and Cyberbullying. Journal of School Violence. 1-14. Online First. Journal Impact Factor: 1.901.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2018). Deterring Teen Bullying: Assessing the Impact of Perceived Punishment From Police, Schools, and Parents. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 16 (2), 190-207. Impact Factor: 2.372.

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2017). Digital Self-Harm. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61, 761-766. Journal Impact Factor: 3.974

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2017). Cultivating Youth Resilience to Prevent Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 73, 51-62. Journal Impact Factor: 2.293

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2015). Defining Cyberbullying: Implications for Research. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 23, 69-74. Journal Impact Factor: 1.928

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2013). Cyberbullying among Adolescents: Implications for Empirical Research. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(4), 431-432. Journal Impact Factor: 3.974

Patchin, J. W., Schafer, J. A., & Hinduja, S. (2013). Cyberbullying and Sexting: Law Enforcement Perceptions. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.

Sabella, R. A., Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2013). Cyberbullying myths and realities. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2703-2711. Journal Impact Factor: 3.435

Hinduja, S. & Kooi, B. (2013). Curtailing Cyber and Information Security Vulnerabilities through Situational Crime Prevention. Security Journal, 26(4):383-402. Journal Impact Factor: 0.978

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2013). Social Influences on Cyberbullying Behaviors Among Middle and High School Students. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42 (5), 711-722. Journal Impact Factor: 3.284

Hinduja, S. (2012). The Heterogeneous Engineering of Music Piracy. Policy & Internet, 4 (3), 229-248. Journal Impact Factor: 2.29

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2012). School-based Efforts to Prevent Cyberbullying. Prevention Researcher, 19 (3), 7-9.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2012). Cyberbullying: Neither an Epidemic Nor a Rarity. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9 (5), 539-543. Journal Impact Factor: 1.302

Hinduja, S. (2012). General Strain, Self-Control, and Music Piracy. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 6 (1), 95167.

Hinduja, S. & Higgins, G. E. (2011). Trends and patterns among music pirates. Deviant Behavior, 32, 16. Journal Impact Factor: 1.052

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2011). Traditional and nontraditional bullying among youth: A test of general strain theory. Youth and Society, 43 (2) 727-751. Journal Impact Factor: 1.608

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2011). Cyberbullying: A review of the legal issues facing educators. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 55(2), 71-78.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2011). High-tech cruelty. Educational Leadership, 68(5), 48-52. Journal Impact Factor: .194

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2011). Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem. Journal of School Health, 80 (12), 614-621. Journal Impact Factor: 1.749

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2010). Changes in Adolescent Online Social Networking Behaviors from 2006 to 2009. Computers in Human Behavior, 26, 1818821 Journal Impact Factor: 3.435

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2010). Bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Archives of Suicide Research, 14 (3), 206-221. Journal Impact Factor: 1.901

Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2010). Trends in online social networking: Adolescent use of MySpace over time. New Media and Society. 12(2) 19716. Journal Impact Factor: 2.524

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

Florida Atlantic University

Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2013 to present

Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2009 to 2013

Undergraduate Coordinator, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2010 to 2012

Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2004 to 2009
Cyberbullying Research Center

Co-Director, 2008 to present
Berkman Klein Center, Harvard University
Faculty Associate, 2020 to present
Center for Cryptology and Information Security
Faculty Member, 2012 to present

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Presents to tens of thousands of educators, parents, and youth each year on bullying, cyberbullying, sexting, safe social media use, and emerging tech

Published 8 books, 10 peer-reviewed book chapters, and 50+ academic journal articles

Publications have been cited approximately 22,000 times as of July 2023

Keynoting the 2023 SEL Summer Institute, Cambridge, MA

Keynoted the FADSS Spring Leadership Conference, Orlando, FL

Keynoted the 2022 PUCO Forum on Preventing Youth Cyber Violence, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Keynoted the 2022 RAISE Digital Safety Conference, Lehi, Utah

Keynoted for the World Bank in 2021 to educate parents on youth technology misuse

Keynoted the 2021 COST 18115 European Conference discussing the intersection of cyberbullying and migrant children

Keynoted the 2021 No More Harm Conference, Melbourne, Australia

Keynoted the 2020 New York Jets Fifth Annual “Jets Tackle Bullying” Educators Conference

Keynoted the 2020 University of Buffalo Bullying Summit

Keynoted the 2020 Nebraska School Safety and Security conference

Keynoted the 2019 eSafety Conference, Sydney, Australia

Keynoted the 2018 Association of Middle-Level Education annual conference

FAU Presidential Award Winner for Outstanding Faculty-Led Community Engagement in Service, 2018

Co-Founder and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Bullying Prevention (Springer Publications)

Testified on cyberbullying and school safety in front of the Attorney General and the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security

2017 Fulbright Specialist Award Winner (one of five worldwide)

Keynoted the 2017 World Anti-Bullying Forum

Keynoted Auburn University's 2016 Anti-Bullying Summit

Keynoted the International Bullying Prevention Association's 2016 annual conference

Spoke on School Safety and Violence at Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill in February, 2015

Co-authored a white paper on cyberbullying for the White House

Appointed Board Member of the International Bullying Prevention Association

Appointed Board Member of Hack Harassment

Appointed Board Member of BeStrong

Spoke at TEDx in 2015 (Comparing Ourselves to Others)

Spoke at TEDx in 2014 (The Lost Art of Listening)

Michigan State University's Distinguished Young Alumni Award, 2014

Listen Learn Care Award from the Office Depot Foundation, 2014

Children's Wireless Safety Achievement Award from the Wireless Foundation, 2014

Spoke at TEDx in 2013 (Single-Minded Focus)

Auburn University's Global Anti-Bullying Hero Award, 2015

Michigan State University's Commencement Speaker, 2013

Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame inductee, 2012

FAU's Teacher of the Year Award, 2011

FAU's Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award, 2015

FAU's Researcher of the Year Award, 2015, 2010

FAU's Freshman Convocation Speaker, 2010

PROFILE

ABOUT ME

Professionally, I spend my time researching, identifying, and sharing best practices to promote trust, safety, security, and transparency so that everyone online has healthy, productive experiences, and that online harms do not lead to offline victimization. I work with users, platforms, families, schools, communities, and governmental organizations on issues like education, quantitative and qualitative studies, policy development, design and engineering, programmatic initiatives, messaging campaigns, and more. My focus over the last few years has been on new forms of harassment, metaverse trust and safety, generative AI harms, big data analyses, social and emotional learning through emerging tech, and formal and informal methods to encourage civility and upstanding behaviors. Generally, I'm tackling questions like:

"What are the latest technology trends, and in what environments are they occurring?"
"What does the latest research say online abuse and misuse, and its causes, correlates, and consequences?"
"What prevention and response strategies are emerging worldwide, and how can they be applied in specific settings?"
"How can we promote civility, safety, privacy, and security online?"
"What deterrent methods are most effective - and which are useless - in forestalling harmful behavior online?"
"How can platforms support their userbase and build healthier online communities?"
"How should companies use research, education, and in-app features to reduce victimization and promote positive experiences?"
"How can the public sector and private sector successfully co-lobor towards meaningful tech solutions that serve society?
"What are the roles of pediatricians, mental health professionals, law enforcement, and other stakeholders?"
"How can we foster greater civility and digital citizenship on a micro- and macro-level?"
"How can we increase empathy, resilience, altruism, self-control, and hope online and offline?"
"How can we enlist and inspire youth to lead the way?"

I am passionate about my work, and truly love what I do.

Personally, I simply like to live my life in a way that keeps me joyful and young at heart, and helps me to continually see the world and the people in it with awe, wonder, reverence, and thankfulness. As I get older, I have to be so intentional to guard against cynicism, busyness, pettiness, pride, apathy, and ingratitude. Life is rough and entropy is real, and if I don't actively fight against that tide, everything becomes a chore. And I don't want that.

Interests

Spending time with God, family, and friends

Investing in others

Hiking

Rock climbing

Snowboarding

Exploring and adventuring

Missions trips

Acoustic guitar

Writing songs and poems

Blogging

Ultimate frisbee

St. Louis Cardinals

Kansas City Chiefs

St. Louis Blues

San Antonio Spurs

Clean water in India

WHAT IS MY FAVORITE...

Food

I'm up for anything, but I always enjoy seafood. Raw or cooked. If we get together, let's go to a great seafood joint!

Book

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. It helps me to think about life as an adventure, to know which battles are worth fighting for, and to continually pursue intimacy and health in my romantic relationship.

Painting

Thomas Cole's Voyage of Life series of paintings from 1842. Each of these - Childhood, Youth, Manhood, and Old Age - haunt me, and I can see myself portrayed across them all.

Trait

Thoughtfulness. Especially since it seems to be waning, perhaps because everyone is increasingly busy. I hope to always be thoughtful towards everyone I meet - strangers, new colleagues, new friends, family, anyone. I hope to be remembered for my thoughtfulness.