Cyberbullying is in many cases an extension of already existing traditional bullying.

[4][5] Students who

are bullied via the Internet have, in most cases, also been bullied in other more traditional ways before
(e.g., physically or verbally). There are few students who are bullied exclusively over the Internet; these
cyber victims are often physically stronger students, which causes bullies to prefer online confrontations
over face-to-face contact at school.[4]

Awareness in the United States has risen in the 2010s, due in part to high-profile cases.[6][7] Several US
states and other countries have passed laws to combat cyberbullying.[8] Some are designed to specifically
target teen cyberbullying, while others extend from the scope of physical harassment. In cases of adult
cyberharassment, these reports are usually filed beginning with local police.[9] The laws differ by area or
state.

Research has demonstrated a number of serious consequences of cyberbullying victimisation.[10]

Specific statistics on the negative effects of cyberbullying differ by country and other demographics.
Some researchers point out there could be some way to use modern computer techniques to determine and
stopping cyberbullying.[11]

Other research has suggested an uptick in cyberbullying during the COVID-19 pandemic when many
youth and adults were quarantined at home and, as a consequence, online more often than before the
pandemic. For example, a study of adults published in the Journal of Social Psychology identified
statistically significant increases in pro-cyberbullying attitudes as well as in cyberbullying offending
behavior.[12] However, another study involving over 6,500 Canadian youth in grades 4–12 did not find
higher rates of cyberbullying involvement. The authors speculated that this might be a result of closer
monitoring and involvement of online activities by parents while their children were at home.[13]

Internet trolling is a common form of bullying that takes place in an online community (such as online
gaming or social media) in order to elicit a reaction or disruption, or simply just for someone's own
personal amusement.[14][15] Cyberstalking is another form of bullying or harassment that uses electronic
communications to stalk a victim; this may pose a credible threat to the victim.[16]

Not all negative interaction online or on social media can be attributed to cyberbullying. Research
suggests that there are also interactions online that result in peer pressure, which can have a negative,
positive, or neutral impact on those involved.[17][18][19]

Definitions
A frequently used definition of cyberbullying is "an aggressive, intentional act or behavior that is carried
out by a group or an individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly and over time against a
victim who cannot easily defend him or herself."[20] It is to be distinguished from normal conflicts
between people of comparable power or status that often also occur online.[21]
There are many variations of the definition, such as the National Crime Prevention Council's more
specific definition: "the process of using the Internet, cell phones or other devices to send or post text or
images intended to hurt or embarrass another person."[7] Cyberbullying is often similar to traditional
bullying, with some notable distinctions. Victims of cyberbullying may not know the identity of their
bully, or why the bully is targeting them, based on the online nature of the interaction.[22] The
harassment can have wide-reaching effects on the victim, as the content used to harass the victim can be
spread and shared easily among many people and often remains accessible long after the initial incident.
[23]

The terms "cyberharassment" and "cyberbullying" are sometimes used synonymously, though some
people use the latter to refer specifically to harassment among minors or in a school setting.[16]

Cyberstalking
Further information: Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is a form of online harassment in which the perpetrator uses electronic communications to
stalk a victim. This is considered more dangerous than other forms of cyberbullying because it generally
involves a credible threat to the victim's safety. Cyberstalkers may send repeated messages intended to
threaten or harass, and they may encourage others to do the same, either explicitly or by impersonating
their victim and asking others to contact them.[16]

This can be a combination of most of the other methods in order to stalk someone using electronic means.
This can include finding the victims location, harassing them with spam, or using sextortion. An example
of this situation occurring is when Paris Deshaunte Evitt, a 30-year old from Tulsa cyberstalked one of his
former partners. A news article on it states, "Between October 2018 and continuing until October 2020,
Evitt used email, Facebook, and text messages to control and threaten the victim. However, his abuse of
the victim had started years before. Between 2012 and 2019, Evitt was convicted on 5 different occasions
for physically abusing the victim including strangulation, assault, and interfering with reporting. Evitt was
also on state supervision at the time of the current offenses."[24]"(The unidentified victim) explained that
Evitt had destroyed her sense of security and became emotional when she discussed Evitt's statement that
he would rather see her dead than happy. She also stated, 'the longer he is away from my children and I,
the more time we have to try and heal and move on with our lives, if that is even possible.'"[24]