Cyberbullying

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is a form of harassment that takes place through online or digital platforms. It is executed by electronic communication to target malicious objectives, such as to intimidate or harm a person. The source of electronic communication can be social media, text messages, emails, online forums, or any other digital means.

Cyberbullying tactics includes

  • Sending vulgar messages or threatening messages to a person.
  • Sending sensitive/private information or images to a person.
  • Pretending to be someone else online to damage their reputation in society/family/group.
  • Deliberately excluding someone from an online group/forum.
  • Revealing personal, private, or sensitive information about someone without his/her consent.
  • Publicly releasing someone’s address or phone numbers with the intent to harm him/her.
  • Posting inflammatory comments to provoke or harass someone.
Key Characteristics of Cyberbullying
  • Persistent: Most have access to some form of technology at all times, which means cyberbullying can happen any time. It happens while at home or in the community.
  • Hard to detect: While some bullying is very overt, such as pushing or damaging belongings, cyberbullying happens through phones and on computers or tablets, making it much more difficult for adults to detect.
  • Anonymous: Cyberbullying can be done anonymously. When someone is anonymous, their real name, contact details, or any identifiable personal information is not disclosed. This can be achieved through pseudonyms, user IDs, or simply by not providing personal information.
  • Repeated Behavior: Cyberbullying often involves repeated, intentional harassment.
  • Wider Reach: Content shared online can quickly spread to a large audience, amplifying the impact and making it harder for victims to escape the harassment.
Negative Effect of Cyberbullying

There are many detrimental effects associated with cyberbullying. It causes physical, mental and social distress to victim.

  • Emotional Impact: Victims may experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
  • Social Isolation: Victims might withdraw from social interactions, both online and offline, due to fear or embarrassment.
  • Academic and Professional Consequences: For students, cyberbullying can affect academic performance and participation. For adults, it can impact job performance and relationships.
  • Behavioural Changes: Victims might show changes in behaviour, such as changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, or a decrease in overall well-being.
Digital Awareness for Parents

There are things you can do to prevent cyberbullying and protect your child from harmful digital behaviour:

  • Monitor a teen’s social media sites, apps, and browsing history, if you have concerns that cyberbullying may be occurring.
  • Review or re-set your child’s phone location and privacy settings.
  • Follow or friend your teen on social media sites or have another trusted adult do so.
  • Stay up-to-date on the latest apps, social media platforms, and digital slang used by children and teens.
  • Know your child’s usernames and passwords for email and social media.
  • Establish rules about appropriate digital behaviour, content, and apps.

Source: www.https://www.stopbullying.gov/