Cyberbullying occurs when technology is used to demean, harm, or inflict pain on another person. It is caracterized by willful and repeated harm inflicted through electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and tablets. Perpetrators engage in cyberbullying across various online platforms, including social media, video games, discussion boards, and messaging apps.
While cyberbullying can affect individuals of all ages, it is most commonly associated with children and teenagers. It includes behaviors such as name-calling, threats, sharing private or embarrassing photos, and excluding others from online activities. Often, cyberbullying involves people who know each other from school or other social settings, though strangers can also be perpetrators.
Unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying can follow the victim anywhere, making it pervasive and relentless. The content shared online can be public and long-lasting, existing permanently in digital archives. Cyberbullies have 24/7 access to their victims and can remain anonymous, which can escalate the impact of their actions.
Types of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying encompasses various forms of harassment and abusive behavior conducted through electronic means. Some common types include:
- Exclusion: Deliberately leaving someone out of online groups, chats, or activities, leading to feelings of isolation and depression.
- Harassment: Sending persistent and hurtful messages to a victim. These messages often contain threats and aim to intimidate.
- Cyberstalking: Monitoring someone's online presence closely, making false accusations, and threats. This behavior can extend to the real world and become dangerous.
- Outing: Publicly revealing someone's gender identity or sexual orientation without their consent to embarrass or humiliate them.
- Doxxing: Maliciously sharing personal information, such as a home address or school details, to harass or intimidate the victim.
- Fraping: Using someone’s social media accounts to post inappropriate content in their name, damaging their reputation.
- Trolling: Posting derogatory comments online to provoke and hurt the victim. While not all trolling is cyberbullying, it often crosses that line.
- Dissing: Spreading cruel information about someone, either publicly or privately, to damage their reputation or relationships.
- Flaming: Sending or posting insults and profanity to provoke an online fight.
- Denigration: Spreading false information about someone to harm their reputation, including cruel rumors and gossip.
- Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else online to post harmful content in their name, causing the victim to face backlash.
- Trickery: Befriending someone to gain their trust and obtain sensitive information, which is then shared publicly to embarrass or harm them.
- Fake Profiles: Creating false profiles to post content in the victim's name without their consent, often to spread misinformation or harmful content.
- Catfishing: Creating a fake online identity to engage with a victim emotionally, only to betray their trust later.
- Threatening or Abusive Texts: Sending harmful messages via text to intimidate or threaten the victim.
- Embarrassing Images or Videos: Creating and sharing content that humiliates the victim.
- Shaming: Publicly shaming someone online to embarrass them.
- Hate Sites: Setting up websites or groups aimed at targeting a specific individual with hate.
- Encouraging Self-Harm: Pressuring or encouraging someone to engage in self-harm.
- Abusive Polls: Voting for or against someone in a manner meant to harm or embarrass them.
- Sexting: Sending explicit messages or images to someone, often with coercion.
- Pressuring for Sexual Content: Forcing someone to send sexual images or engage in sexual conversations.
Effects of Cyberbullying on Kids and Teens
The effects of cyberbullying can be profound and long-lasting, particularly for children and teenagers.
Mental Health Impacts
Cyberbullying can severely affect the mental health of children and teens. Victims often experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The relentless nature of online bullying can make it feel inescapable, contributing to ongoing feelings of fear and helplessness.
Emotional and Physical Effects
Emotionally, cyberbullying can lead to embarrassment, shame, anger, and frustration. Victims may lose interest in activities they once enjoyed and suffer from a decline in self-esteem. Physically, the stress from cyberbullying can manifest in symptoms such as sleep disturbances, stomach aches, and headaches. In extreme cases, the emotional toll may lead to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Educational Consequences
Cyberbullying can also negatively affect a student's education. Victims may struggle to concentrate in class, resulting in poor academic performance. Fear of encountering their bully at school can lead to increased absenteeism, and some students may turn to negative coping mechanisms, such as substance use, to manage their stress.
Effects on Cyberbullies
Those who engage in cyberbullying often feel emboldened by the anonymity and physical distance provided by online platforms. This can result in more aggressive behavior compared to face-to-face interactions. Cyberbullies may face serious consequences, including suspension or expulsion from school, removal from sports teams, and potential legal trouble. Additionally, they are at higher risk for dropping out of school, engaging in delinquent behavior, and suffering from severe depression.
Signs of Cyberbullying in Kids and Teens
Parents, teachers, and guardians should be aware of the signs that a child or teen might be experiencing cyberbullying. Common indicators include:
- Emotional and Behavioral Changes
- Emotional Upset: Sudden bouts of anger, sadness, or tears during or after using the internet or their phone, without an obvious cause.
- Mood and Behavior Changes: Increased irritability, anger, depression, or withdrawal from usual activities.
- Secrecy and Protectiveness
- Secretive Digital Life: Becoming very secretive or protective about online activities, frequently changing screens or hiding devices when others are nearby.
- Avoiding Discussions: Avoiding conversations about online activities or interactions.
- Social Withdrawal
- Isolation: Spending more time alone, withdrawing from family interactions, and losing interest in previously enjoyed activities.
- Avoidance of Social Situations: Avoiding school, group gatherings, or social events they once looked forward to.
- Academic and Physical Symptoms
- Academic Decline: A noticeable drop in grades, lack of interest in schoolwork, or acting out in anger at home.
- Physical Symptoms: Changes in sleep patterns, appetite, or physical appearance, such as sudden weight loss or wearing long sleeves to hide self-harm marks.
- Nervousness and Anxiety
- Nervousness with Digital Communication: Being jumpy or anxious when receiving messages, texts, or emails, and showing reluctance to use digital devices.
- Reluctance to Share: Hesitancy to let parents or family members see their mobile devices, laptops, or other digital devices.
- Social and Peer Relationship Changes
- Loss of Friends: Friends may start disappearing, or the child may be excluded from social events due to cyberbullying.
- Withdrawal from Peers: The child may pull away from friendships or avoid interacting with their usual social group.
