What Is Cyberbullying?
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Ten years ago, we did not imagine bullying could happen in a cyber world. However, as the Internet develops and mobile devices get popularity, we, not only children but also grown-ups, are exposed to cyberbullying. It can happen to anyone.
Bullying is any activity that uses force or threats to persecute people and make them feel bad. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that uses electronic media.
People who cyberbully can use email, instant message (IM), text messages, and images accessed from a phone or computer. Web pages, blogs, chat rooms, and social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace can also carry bullying messages and pictures. Cyberbullying is sometimes also called cyber harassment, particularly if it involves adults.
People who cyberbully can use email, instant message (IM), text messages, and images accessed from a phone or computer. Web pages, blogs, chat rooms, and social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace can also carry bullying messages and pictures. Cyberbullying is sometimes also called cyber harassment, particularly if it involves adults.
Hunter, Nick. (2012) Cyber bullying /Chicago, Ill. : Heinemann Library,
Types of Cyberbullying
Flaming
- Flaming is a heated exchange between two or more individuals that occurs via any communication technology.
- It typically occurs in “public” settings, such as chat rooms or discussion groups, rather than private e-mail exchanges.
- At first blush, flaming would seem to occur between two individuals who are on an equal playing field with one another. However, an unsuspected aggressive act by one individual may create an imbalance in the playing field that is made all the greater by the fact that the target, at least in the short term, is unsure who else the perpetrator might bring into the flame war. So, what may appear to observers to be a level playing field may not be perceived that way by the individuals directly involved in the insulting exchange.
Harassment
- Cyber harassment is more one-sided to a single target.
- Cyber harassment can have more than one offender.
- Flaming is a mutual exchange of insults between the individuals involved.
- Harassment is a unique form of cyberbullying that involves repetitive offensive messages sent to a target.
- It occurs via personal communication channels, such as e-mail, but may also be communicated in public forums, such as chat rooms and discussion groups.
- One or more perpetrators target a single victim. The perpetrator(s) sends hundreds or thousands of text messages to the target’s cellular phone, leaving the target not only with a slew of harassing messages but with a sizable phone bill as well. There is a special group of online bullies known as griefers. They are individuals who deliberately harass other players in multiplayer online games.
- Difference between 'harassment' and 'flaming'
- Cyber harassment is more one-sided to a single target.
- Cyber harassment can have more than one offender.
- Flaming is a mutual exchange of insults between the individuals involved.
Denigration
- Denigration is information about another that is derogatory and untrue.
- The derogatory information may be posted on a Web page or it may be disseminated to others via e-mail or instant messaging. Included within this category of cyber bullying is posting or sending digitally altered photos of someone, particularly in a way that portrays them in a sexualized or harmful manner.
Impersonation
- The perpetrator poses as the victim, most often by using the victim’s password to gain access to his or her accounts, then communicating negative, cruel, or inappropriate information with others as if the target himself or herself were voicing those thoughts.
Outing
- Outing refers to sharing personal, often embarrassing information with others with whom the information was never intended to be shared.
Trickery
- Trickery refers to tricking someone into revealing personal information about themselves and then sharing that information with others.
Excluding/Ostracism
- Excluding someone from cyber groups or communication buddy lists in instant messaging applications or email groups.
Cyberstalking
- Cyberstalking refers to the use of electronic communications to stalk another person through repetitive harassing and threatening communications.
- What is ‘Stalking’: (1) The act or an instance of following another by stealth. (2) The offense of following or loitering near another, often surreptitiously, with the purpose of annoying or harassing that person or committing a further crime such as assault or battery.
Happy Slapping
- Happy slapping is a relatively new method of cyberbullying that began on subway trains and that has taken hold in England. People, usually, teenagers, walk up and slap (or worse action) someone, while another individual, also usually a teenager, captures the violence using a camera phone. The perpetrator(s) spreads the video through a web page or e-mails.
Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2008). Cyber Bullying : Bullying in the Digital Age. Hoboken: Wiley.
Communication Modalities for Cyberbullying
- Instant Messaging
- Text Messaging
- Social Networking Sites
- Chat Rooms
- Blogs
- Web Sites
- Bash Boards
- Internet Gaming
Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2008). Cyber Bullying : Bullying in the Digital Age. Hoboken: Wiley.
Differences Between Traditional Bullying & Cyberbullying
Between traditional form of bullying and cyberbullying, there are similarities and differences. Not every traditional bullying and cyberbullying are like this, but generally they show three common characteristics: (1) the behavior is aggressive; (2) there is a power imbalance between the victim and the perpetrator; and (3) the behavior is repeated. However, cyberbullying shows several differences due to its environmental uniqueness.
- The uncertainty of perpetrator: children know who bullies them in traditional bullying. However, the victims of cyberbullying may not know who intimidates them. This is because of the anonymity of cyberspace. Perpetrators can hide or fabricate their identities. They can be friends of victims like those of traditional bullying, but they can be total strangers or even parents of their friends.
- 24-hour accessibility: unlike traditional bullying that victims can relax when they are at home, cyberbullying can continue 24 hours whenever an electronic device of victim is turned on.
- Fear of being revoked technology privileges: probably the first reaction of parents when they learned that their child is cyberbullied, they may dispossess of electronic devices from their child. This can help not exposing their child to cyberbullying, but this can also disconnect their child from their friends since most of young generation communicates through mobile phones and laptops.
Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2008). Cyber Bullying : Bullying in the Digital Age. Hoboken: Wiley.
Who Are Cyberbullies?
There are numerous reasons of cyberbullying. Including all of the motivations of traditional bullying, the motivation of cyberbullying is more various and the grievers are much more unpredictable since cyberbullying can be happened anonymously. This means a good student at school can be a cruel cyberbully in the Internet. However, Parry Aftab (2006) identified four types of children who cyberbully:
- The vengeful angel: views himself or herself as seeking justice to right wrongs that have been inflicted on them or others. There are many cases that cyberbullies were victims of traditional bullying at school and retaliate in a cyber world.
- The power-hungry: resembles the prototypical traditional school bully who wants to show his or her control, power, and authority over others. Aftab included children who just want to vent anger and hostility through cyberbullying within the power-hungry category.
- Mean girls: refers to children who cyberbully out of boredom without specific reasons or anger.
- The inadvertent cyberbully: they were involved in cyberbullying as they dispute or react in kind to negative communications that they receive.
Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2008). Cyber Bullying : Bullying in the Digital Age. Hoboken: Wiley.
Aftab, P. (2006). http://www.wiredsafty.net.
Aftab, P. (2006). http://www.wiredsafty.net.
Who Are Victims?
Children
Sadly, many children who are subject to cyberbullying are previously victims of traditional bullying. Since most of teenagers communicate with mobile devices, perpetrators continue bullying in virtual and real world at the same time. Hence, like victims of traditional bullying, victims of cyber bullying also include someone who seems to be week, vulnerable, or having low self-esteem.
Sadly, many children who are subject to cyberbullying are previously victims of traditional bullying. Since most of teenagers communicate with mobile devices, perpetrators continue bullying in virtual and real world at the same time. Hence, like victims of traditional bullying, victims of cyber bullying also include someone who seems to be week, vulnerable, or having low self-esteem.
Between Boys and Girls
There are more chances of cyberbullying between girls than boys. Because traditional bullying often accompanies physical violence, boys show higher rate than girls. However, with cyberbullying, girls show higher participation in cyberbullying than that of boys shows.
There are more chances of cyberbullying between girls than boys. Because traditional bullying often accompanies physical violence, boys show higher rate than girls. However, with cyberbullying, girls show higher participation in cyberbullying than that of boys shows.
Teachers
It is often believed that cyberbullying happens only between children, however teachers may be targeted for cyberbullying. Since perpetrator's identity is easily hidden or fabricated, children can intimidate their teachers too.
It is often believed that cyberbullying happens only between children, however teachers may be targeted for cyberbullying. Since perpetrator's identity is easily hidden or fabricated, children can intimidate their teachers too.
Besides of teachers, can adults be victims of cyberbullying?
Usually for adult victims, the term 'cyberbullying' is not used, instead we can call it 'cyberharassment' or 'cyberstalking.' When we refer 'cyberbullying,' it mostly indicates that minors hurting other minors.
Usually for adult victims, the term 'cyberbullying' is not used, instead we can call it 'cyberharassment' or 'cyberstalking.' When we refer 'cyberbullying,' it mostly indicates that minors hurting other minors.
Hunter, Nick. (2012) Cyber bullying /Chicago, Ill. : Heinemann Library,