Cyberbullying

and awareness

What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is defined as the act of harassing another
individual online–often anonymously–through
messages, comments, or any other form of
communication that involves the internet. Cyberbullying is
distinct from other forms of harassment in that it happens
in a virtual space. However, it can have an enormous
impact on a person’s real-world life, often in more
detrimental ways than traditional bullying.
Cyberbullying started in the 1990s as internet-
connected, personal computers became widely available
on the consumer market. Incident rates increased,
with 92% of cyberbullying attacks now attributed to social
media. The 2007 Megan Meier case is one of the earliest
documented examples of cyberbullying.
How Is Cyberbullying Different from
Bullying?
Unlike traditional bullying, which usually
has to be done in person, those who are
bullied online may find it nearly
impossible to have any breaks from
their bullies
•Cyberbullies can remain anonymous
behind usernames.
•Social media networks aren’t supervised
or chaperoned.
•Cyberbullies can reach their victims at
any time, day or night.
•The reach of a cyberbully can be global.
The increased use of social media
among young people has only
exacerbated this issue. In fact, 45% of
children will likely experience some form
of cyberbullying and some point.
Other Forms of Cyberbullying :
Cyberbullying is an umbrella term that includes all manner of online harassment. Below we
have listed seven different methods bullies use to attack their victims in digital spaces.
1.Trolling: One of the most prevalent forms of cyberbullying, trolling is when bullies use
inflammatory language with the full intent of sparking a reaction from their victim. This often
happens in comments sections on social media such as YouTube or Facebook.
2.Doxing/Outing: Doxing is when online bullies find personal information about their victims
and publicly release it.
3.Fraping: Fraping is when an adult takes over a child’s account to post highly inappropriate
content.
4.Cyberstalking: This is a particularly alarming form of cyberbullying. It can sometimes lead
to a person being stalked in the real world. However, cyberstalkers will follow their victims’
online activities and use that knowledge to threaten or blackmail them.
5.Trickery: Trickery is when a cyberbully pretends to be friendly with their victim only to get
them to disclose private information that can be fuel for abuse. Members of the LGBTQ+
community have been significantly affected by this kind of bullying.
6.Masquerading/Impersonating: This is when a person poses as their victim to post material
that could get them into trouble.
7.Flaming: This is when bullies use vulgar and, in some cases, violent language to verbally
harass their victims through online messaging.
Five Ways You Can Identify and Prevent Cyberbullying Today :
Because cyberbullies often lurk behind a username’s anonymity and enjoy the lack of a present
authority figure, it can be hard to identify when it is happening. Here are some signs to look for:
1.Symptoms of emotional unrest, such as depression or anxiety: One out of every five students
who experience bullying begin to consider suicide and are three to nine times more likely to attempt it.
2.Notice sudden changes in smartphone use: Smartphone addiction is so prevalent in young
people that when they stop using theirs, it is a sign something is going on.
3.Notice when someone may be avoiding school or work: When cyberbullying occurs, it is
viewable to the victim’s peers, leading to feelings of shame or fear. In fact, more than 50% of
students were afraid to face their cyberbully in person in studies.
4.Keep a strong communication line: Often, a person only becomes a bully when they are
themselves in a bad spot emotionally and feel they have no other outlet. Maintaining good
communication with your children or friends helps to prevent them from ever feeling that desperate.
5.Create a positive environment: People in positions of power, like teachers, managers, and
parents, have a great opportunity –and some would say responsibility– to create a positive
environment. People who feel cared for and connected to others rarely resort to bullying and other
antisocial behavior.
The above warning signs are mainly to help you identify a victim of cyberbullying. If you would like to
identify a cyberbully, you should watch for antisocial behavior and overly guarded online
privacy. Frequently, bullies use accounts that are either under a fake name or pseudonym.