Schools across the US are bracing themselves for an increase in student bullying and violence following another hard fought and at times brutal US presidential campaign.

Rise in threats against politicians 

The 2024 U.S. presidential election saw a notable increase in aggressive rhetoric and threats, reflecting a broader shift in societal norms towards free speech and away from politically correct behavior. The election included an attempted assassination attempt on President Donald Trump that led to the death of one attendee and critically injured two others before the assailant was neutralized by Secret Service agents. 

Data from the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) shows that members of congress, along with their families and staff, experienced a 20% increase in threats made against them in the past year. USCP officials have attributed part of this increase to individuals feeling emboldened by their perceived anonymity on social media platforms, leading to more frequent and severe threats. 

Increased hostility among adults

It is not only politicians who are suffering the consequences of hostile political discourse.  Ordinary citizens are now far more likely to dehumanize supporters of a different party.  Mason and Nathan Kalmoe, a political communication professor at Louisiana State University, studied the origins of extreme partisanship among Americans for the 2022 book, Radical American Partisanship. Mason and Kalmoe found that around 40 percent of Americans surveyed were willing to use dehumanizing language about the other party — a metric she says can be a precursor to even more serious political violence.  

Impact on student bullying and cyberbullying

It is still too early to assess the full impact of the US Presidential Election on students. However we do know that children and teens typically mirror the behaviors and attitudes they observe in the adults around them, both online and offline. The teenage brain is still developing and is highly sensitive to outside influence. 

We saw this in the 2016 U.S. presidential election when the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) conducted research that highlighted the connection between political discourse and student behavior in schools. In March 2016, the SPLC’s Teaching Tolerance project conducted an online survey of approximately 2,000 educators to assess the impact of the presidential campaign on school environments. The SPLC report revealed several key findings:

  • Student Anxiety: More than two-thirds of educators reported that students—particularly immigrants, children of immigrants, and Muslims—expressed concerns or fears about the election’s outcome and its potential impact on their lives and families. 
  • Uncivil Discourse: Over half of the respondents observed an increase in uncivil political discourse within their classrooms, reflecting the contentious nature of the national political climate. 
  • Bullying and Harassment: More than one-third of educators witnessed an uptick in anti-Muslim or anti-immigrant sentiments among students. Additionally, there were reports of students using derogatory language and engaging in bullying behaviors that mirrored the divisive rhetoric prevalent during the campaign. 
  • Reluctance to Discuss Elections: Approximately 40% of educators felt hesitant to teach about the election, indicating challenges in addressing political topics in educational settings amidst heightened tensions.  

By many accounts, the 2024 U.S. presidential election was even more online, even more contentious and marked by greater physical violence than in 2016. Reports suggest a noticeable shift in the tone of teens’ interactions on social media, with more outspoken and aggressive speech emerging in the aftermath of the election. Research has shown that student bullying and cyberbullying are deeply influenced by societal values and norms. When unrestrained free speech is celebrated without regard for its impact, students may feel emboldened to express hostility more openly towards their peers. Bullying tends to focus on differences, and students are especially at risk if they are different because of their ethnicity, immigrant status, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, physical or mental ability.  The full extent of this shift—and its impact on school environments—will likely become clearer in the months ahead.

How Schools Are Responding

In recent years, schools across the United States have adopted AI-powered surveillance software to monitor students’ online activities on school-issued devices. The primary objectives of these technologies are to prevent school violence and address the escalating mental health crisis among students—two issues that are closely interconnected. These systems are designed to flag potential dangers such as bullying, self-harm, or suicidal ideation, enabling school staff to intervene promptly.

However, the implementation of such surveillance practices has raised critical privacy and security concerns. For instance, there have been instances where sensitive student data was inadvertently exposed, highlighting significant cybersecurity risks and the unintended consequences of surveillance. Such breaches can lead to students being outed against their will or a loss of trust between students and staff.

Traditionally, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) played a pivotal role in safeguarding students against discrimination, harassment, and bullying. The OCR addressed cases involving families seeking services for students with disabilities, allegations of bias related to race and religion, and complaints concerning sexual violence in educational institutions. However, recent workforce reductions within the Department of Education have significantly impacted the OCR’s capacity to address these issues. These cuts have led to substantial implications for local education systems, potentially affecting funding, compliance standards, and resource allocation, especially for lower-income and disabled students. 

In response to these challenges, state departments of education and school districts are increasingly taking on the mantle of protecting their students against discrimination, harassment, and bullying. Despite the divided political climate in which we now live, there is a near-universal consensus that students have the right to attend school free from bullying. Organizations such as Power of Zero have observed a significant uptick in schools seeking assistance to implement bullying prevention programs. This trend underscores the proactive measures educational institutions are taking to ensure safe and inclusive environments for all their students.