Cyber-mobbing, technology-facilitated abuse and online violence

This article collection will explore the pressing issues of cyber-mobbing, technology-facilitated abuse and online violence, including online abuse, stalking, and coercive control. As technology becomes ingrained in everyday life, it increasingly facilitates these harmful behaviors, empowering perpetrators to wield control through various forms of cyber-deviance.

Cyber-mobbing, a particularly insidious form of online abuse, involves coordinated attacks by groups to harass or intimidate individuals. This relentless behavior often leads to severe emotional distress, contributing to anxiety, depression, and a pressing need for specialized mental health support.

The widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) and other digital technologies - such as smart speakers, temperature controls, and smart homes -, while intended for convenience, is frequently misused to enable coercive control. Abusers exploit these technologies to manipulate and monitor victims' environments, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the resulting trauma and psychological challenges. Research from the UK and the US reveals a significant gap in regulatory frameworks and highlights the importance of collaboration with support services.

Cyberstalking and additional forms of digital abuse, such as revenge pornography, cyber aggression, and cyber flashing, further aggravate this issue. A nuanced understanding of all forms of cyber-deviance and their consequences is required to effectively counter technology-facilitated abuse.

This collection seeks to offer an interdisciplinary perspective, focusing on the intersections of psychiatric disorders, psychological well-being, and digital control dynamics. It will consider original research, evidence-based reviews, and theoretical articles that bridge cyber-deviance studies and psychiatric insights, aiming to enhance understanding and support for those affected by cyber-mobbing, related online violence and domestic abuse through technology.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Cyber Deviance, Cyberstalking, Technology Facilitated Abuse, Coercive Control, Domestic Abuse, cyber-mobbing, online violence

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.