The Impact of Cyberbullying Experience on Willingness to Speak Out: The Mediating Role of Fear of Isolation

Abstract

With the widespread adoption of social media, online platforms have become a core venue for public opinion expression and social interaction. However, the growing prevalence of cyberbullying has threatened users' daily online communication behaviors. While existing research has extensively documented the adverse mental health impacts of cyberbullying, the underlying psychological pathway regarding individuals' willingness to engage in public online discourse remains underexplored. This study investigates how cyberbullying experiences affect people's Willingness to Speak Out on social media. Drawing on the Spiral of Silence theory, the study proposes that experiencing cyberbullying increases fear of isolation, which in turn reduces Willingness to Speak Out. As a conceptual study, this paper develops a theoretical framework and derives a set of testable propositions based on a comprehensive review of the extant literature. This study is expected to enrich the application of the Spiral of Silence theory in online communication contexts and provide practical implications for improving the online expression environment.