As teens get older, their image becomes everything to them. This means their social media sites become much more carefully curated. They are also starting to search for intimacy in their friendships, and will likely be engaging in their first relationships. The 24/7 accessibility through technology makes it ideal for supporting this need.
Incidences of cyberbullying tend to peak at around 15 years-old and then drop off significantly. This is a time where teens are immersed in a close-knit group of friends, and relationships at this point have become deeper and more intense. Although to us, this is a seemingly insignificant and short period of time in life, to a teenager, high school is their entire universe. This means when something happens to them socially, such as if they are cyberbullied, the impact is deeply felt.
In addition, due to the increasingly intimate nature of their relationships, they often share very personal things about themselves. Sharing and allowing themselves to be vulnerable is a natural way to build close friendships. However, it also creates the risk that something they have shared could be used against them. For example, a vengeful ex-partner sharing a naked photo. Unfortunately, warning your teenager about these risks is somewhat pointless because they feel very close to the people they are sharing their intimate thoughts with, so it seems unimaginable.