Cyberbullying Incident Severity Calculator
Assess the overall severity of a cyberbullying incident by evaluating frequency, platform reach, content type, victim vulnerability, and bystander involvement. The result is a composite severity score (0–100) mapped to a risk tier.
Formula
Weighted Core Score (max 55 raw → normalised to 50):
Wcore = (Frequency × 2.5) + (Platform Reach × 2.0) + (Content Type × 3.0) + (Vulnerability × 2.0) + (Bystander × 1.5)
Corenorm = (Wcore / 55) × 50
Duration Bonus (max 20):
D = min(days / 30, 1) × 20
Evidence Penalty (0, 3, or 6):
E = 0 (full evidence) | 3 (partial) | 6 (none)
Total Severity Score (0–100):
Severity = ((Corenorm + D + E) / 76) × 100
Tiers: 0–24 Low | 25–49 Moderate | 50–74 High | 75–100 Critical
Assumptions & References
- Content type carries the highest weight (×3.0) because the nature of the behaviour is the strongest predictor of psychological harm (Kowalski et al., 2014).
- Victim vulnerability is weighted ×2.0 reflecting research showing pre-existing mental-health conditions significantly amplify harm (Hinduja & Patchin, 2019).
- Duration bonus caps at 30 days; incidents persisting beyond one month are treated as maximally chronic.
- Lack of evidence increases severity score because it impedes intervention and accountability.
- Bystander amplification is included per social-ecological models of bullying (Salmivalli, 2010).
- This tool is for educational and awareness purposes only and does not replace professional assessment by a counsellor, psychologist, or law-enforcement officer.
- References: Kowalski et al. (2014) Psychological Bulletin; Hinduja & Patchin (2019) Journal of Adolescent Health; Salmivalli (2010) Scandinavian Journal of Psychology.