Types of Cyberbullying | Signs of Cyberbullying | What to Do
Cyberbullying: being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using technological means.
Cyberbully: an individual or group that uses information and communication involving electronic technologies to deliberately and repeatedly harass or threaten another individual or group.
In cyberspace, bullies can easily (and sometimes anonymously) say and do mean and inappropriate things with just the click of a button. Cyberbullies don't have to be more physically or socially powerful than their victims. They may use fictitious names to create online social networking and email accounts, which they then use to cyberbully others.
For example, in 2006, a 16-year-old boy connected with a 13-year-old-girl via MySpace.com. Over time, the online relationship became flirtatious until the boy turned mean, calling the girl names and suggesting the world would be better off without her. The young girl was deeply hurt and ultimately hanged herself in her bedroom closet. It turned out that the "boy" was, in reality, a virtual identity created by a 47-year-old woman in the neighborhood, who allegedly wanted to find out how the young girl felt about her daughter.
Cyberbullying is one of the most common and hurtful ways young people (and some adults) misuse the Internet. The 2005 study reported by cyberbullying.us, found that 35% of the youth studied had been cyberbullied. Among that group, the most frequent types of cyberbullying included being ignored (43%) and disrespected (40%). Almost 5% of youths said they were scared for their own safety.
People
bully others through:
- personal web pages
- social networking sites
- cell phones
- text, picture and video messages
- instant messaging, or IM’ing
- blogs
Types of Cyberbullying
(From the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens, Cyber-Secure Schools (PDF).)
- Flaming: Online fighting using electronic messages with angry and crude language.
- Harassment: Repeatedly sending offensive, rude and insulting messages.
- Exclusion: Intentionally excluding someone from an online group, like a buddy list.
- Cyber stalking: Repeatedly sending messages that are threatening or intimidating. Engaging in other online activities that make the victim afraid for his or her safety.
- Defamation: "Dissing" someone online. Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships.
- Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material online that makes the victim look bad, gets the victim in trouble or danger, or damages the victim's reputation or friendships.
- Outing and Trickery: Sharing someone’s secret or embarrassing information online. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information that is then shared online.
Signs of Cyberbullying
A young person who is being bullied via the Internet or a cell phone may:
- be frustrated or angry after computer or cell phone use
- avoid discussions about computer or cell phone use
- become anxious over instant messages or emails
- have sudden changes in mood or disposition
- stop using a computer
"... Cyberbullying starts in second grade these days, as soon as
they're interactive, which is becoming younger and younger with sites like Webkinz and Club
Penguin and kids using text messaging on cell phones and AIM at much earlier ages. It starts
at six or seven these days."
—Parry Aftab, Executive director, WiredSafety.org quoted
on PBS FRONTLINE
The cyberbully may:
- avoid discussions about computer use
- become agitated when unable to use the computer
- use the computer excessively
- use multiple accounts that may not be his or her own
- close programs down or not allow anyone else to view the screen
What to do if your child is being cyberbullied
National and state freedom of speech laws include and protect Internet speech, even if that speech is critical, annoying, offensive or demeaning, so long as it does not include a direct threat or incite violence.
However, if your child does receive an email or other type of communication that threatens to physically harm them, save the message and all other data relating to it, and notify law enforcement immediately.
For more information on how to prevent and respond to cyberbullying, refer to the following links: