An Examination of Social Media Use in School-Aged Children in Belize

Cyberbullying is a global issue that often accompanies increased social media usage. Research on social media use focus on the USA and other developed nations; however, there are not studies devoted to social media use in developing nations. Studies have found significant gender differences in social media use and cyberbullying, although gender differences are not consistent across studies or geographical locations. Despite the increase in access to cellphones and Internet in Belize, no studies have investigated how adolescents are using these resources. This study investigates gender differences involving how adolescents in Belize are using social media and if cyberbullying is a problem. A survey of 1296 participants indicates that gender differences exist within social media use and cyberbully reporting in Belize, and future studies should investigate influencing cultural factors