USC study reveals how the brain responds to online trolls
University of the Sunshine Coast researchers have conducted a groundbreaking study revealing how adolescent girls’ brains respond to witnessing body image-related cyberbullying (BRC) on social media.
Using functional MRI scans, the study monitored the brain activity of girls aged 14–18 as they read derogatory online comments targeting body weight, shape, or size. It marks the first time this kind of neural response has been mapped in Australia.
Lead researcher Taliah Prince, a PhD candidate at UniSC’s Thompson Institute, said the findings offer crucial insights into the emotional and cognitive toll such bullying takes—even on bystanders.
“Girls showed heightened brain activity in regions linked to emotional regulation, visual processing, and social cognition,” Ms Prince explained. “Those who had experienced recent bullying also activated memory and attention areas, suggesting they may be mentally reliving their own trauma.”
The study also found that girls without body image concerns exhibited stronger responses in brain regions tied to reward and emotion regulation—pointing to a possible resilience factor.
Of the participants, 61% reported being cyberbullied recently, and over 90% had witnessed it. A third expressed dissatisfaction with their bodies.
While previous research has focused primarily on victims and perpetrators, this study sheds light on the impact on observers.
Ms Prince said the findings underscore the need to better understand the broader psychological and neural consequences of appearance-based harassment online. This form of abuse—classified under appearance-related cyberbullying (ARC)—is the most common type among teenage girls.
Earlier UniSC research found 96% of ARC victims wanted to alter their appearance, with 81% considering cosmetic procedures.
Ms Prince says the new findings make a compelling case for promoting body positivity, improving digital literacy, and rethinking social media’s role in adolescents’ lives.