A new study has revealed the effects of cyberbullying on teenage girls, including pressure to diet and undergo cosmetic procedures.
The research, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, found that appearance-related bullying against teenage girls is far more common than previously thought.
The survey, conducted between March and June last year, involved more than 300 girls aged 14 to 19, across Australia and New Zealand.
Youth mental health PhD researcher Taliah Prince said the data showed that 98 per cent of respondents had experienced some form of cyberbullying, and that 62 per cent reported that it related to their appearance.
Ms Prince said action was vital because eating disorders had the highest mortality rate among psychiatric conditions in adolescent girls and that body dissatisfaction was the leading risk factor.