MediaSmarts Report: July 2026

This needs assessment is the first phase of our broader Breaking the Cycle of Youth Cyberbullying (BTC) project, which aims to develop, pilot, adapt and disseminate a culturally safe, evidence-informed cyberbullying prevention program for youth ages 12 to 17 in educational and community settings across Canada.  
 
The BTC program is designed to address cyberbullying and online violence through a whole-school approach, classroom-based learning, community programming and targeted support for youth with greater exposure to violence. Grounded in digital media literacy and informed by youth perspectives, the project seeks to challenge the social norms that make cyberbullying seem acceptable while building skills for emotional regulation, conflict resolution and positive online engagement.

In this new report, we detail the findings from interactive focus groups with 32 youth ages 14 to 19 from across Canada. Findings from this study will directly inform the development of the BTC program and contribute to evidence-based approaches for supporting youth, families, educators and community practitioners.

You can view the full report here: Report