With social media becoming integral to many of our lives, the bystander effect has adapted to this digital landscape in significant ways. Although social media platforms enable us to research and address injustices more readily, they also exacerbate the bystander effect.
Online, the factors contributing to this phenomenon are magnified because we can’t see others’ physical reactions, making it easier to assume that someone else will take action. A notable example was when the bullying of a high school student was live streamed on Facebook.