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cy·ber·bul·ly·ing
noun: cyber-bullying

the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending

messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.

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What is cyberbullying?

We don't necessarily know why kids bully or cyberbully; what we do know is that
cyberbullying is the deliberate, persistent and malicious use of words or pictures
in an online environment intended to cause harm to someone’s wellbeing. Research
undertaken by Kids Helpline found that the most common age for cyberbullying is the
transition period between primary and high school when young people are around 11
or 12, but it happens throughout the teenage years so it’s important to be aware.

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What does cyberbullying look like?

Cyberbullying amongst teens comes in many forms but the most common are:

receiving intentionally hurtful text messages, emails or direct messages on social

media sites

people spreading rumours or lies about someone online

people sending images or videos intended to humiliate or embarrass someone

people sending threats to someone

people setting up and using fake online profiles to embarrass or intimidate

someone.

How is it different to other forms of bullying?

Bullying is a kind of behaviour that is designed to cause intentional harm.

Cyberbullying can be even more distressing because of its very public and
uncontrollable nature. For example:

there’s no limit to who can view or take part in cyberbullying

it can be very difficult to remove content shared online

bullies can be anonymous

content can be accessed through search engines.

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How to be proactive about cyberbullying

To be proactive about cyberbullying you can:

ensure that your child only friends and chats with people on social media that they
know in real life

ensure that privacy settings are set on all your child’s social media accounts

make sure your child knows not to share or give out passwords

ensure that your child knows how to block, delete or report anyone who is upsetting
them online.
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Where does it happen?
Social medias like instagram, twitter, facebook, youtube and many more

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What are the effects of cyberbullying?

The effects of cyberbullying on teenagers can range from:

lower school attendance and performance

increased stress and anxiety
feelings of isolation and fear
poor concentration
depression
decreased self-esteem and confidence
in extreme cases the cyberbullying can lead to suicide.

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What Can You Do to Help Prevent Cyberbullying?
Taking some smart precautions can help you stop cyberbullying before it starts.

How to protect yourself:

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Make the most of privacy settings
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Think before you post.
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Keep personal information personal.

What are the examples of Cyber bullying?

Here are examples of cyberbullying

Sending mean texts or IMs to someone.

Pranking someone's cell phone.

Hacking into someone's gaming or social networking profile.

Being rude or mean to someone in an online game.

Spreading secrets or rumours about people online.

Pretending to be someone else to spread hurtful messages online.

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How do you respond to abuse on social media?

Depending on the nature of the comments, there are four options available when
considering how to respond. These are: Option 1: Ignore and block • Option 2:
Engage with the individual to seek removal • Option 3: Report to social media
platform • Option 4: Report to the police and seek legal opinion.