What Is Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets.
Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming
where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or
sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or
private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying
crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok

Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet

Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit

Email

Online gaming communities

Unique Characteristics of Cyberbullying

While all bullying is characterized by intentional, often repetitive, hurtful behavior toward another
person or group, there are distinguishing elements when it happens online or via smartphone, which
include:

Persistent. Most students have access to some form of technology at all times, which means
cyberbullying can happen any time—in the morning, afternoon, and evening—not just while children are
at school. It happens while at home or in the community.

Hard to detect. While some bullying is very overt, such as pushing or damaging belongings, cyberbullying
happens through phones and on computers or tablets, making it much more difficult for adults to
detect.

Anonymous. Cyberbullying can be done anonymously. Those being bullied might not even know who is
perpetuating the behavior, which makes it easy for one child to hurt another and not be held
accountable.

Shared to a potentially larger audience. Information online can be easily and quickly shared, which
makes it difficult to contain or stop negative messages once they are posted online.
Easier to be hurtful. It is often easier to bully using technology because of greater physical distance The
person bullying doesn’t see the immediate response from the person being targeted They might not
recognize the serious harm caused by their actions because technology distances them from the real-life
pain they could be causing.

Permanent.* Once something is shared on the internet, it is often available to everyone, everywhere It
can be challenging to completely delete information once it is on the internet.

How to Identify Cyberbullying

As discussed above, one of the most concerning aspects of what cyberbullying is includes how difficult it
can be to recognize. Still, teachers should always be on the lookout for signs that a student is either
being a bully or being bullied.

Signs and Symptoms of Cyberbullying

Some of the warning signs of cyberbullying may overlap with those of traditional bullying. However,
here are a few things you should look for in children’s behavior:

Anxiety or Anger: Pay attention to your teenager’s mood both during and after they use a mobile phone
or computer. Do they consistently seem anxious, nervous, or otherwise upset when spending time
online? Do they get angry or have outbursts when they are online?

Secretive: Has your teen become secretive or defensive about their online activities? If they
unexpectedly shut off devices when others approach, refuse to discuss what they do online, or get upset
or agitated when you try to discuss this with them, they may be attempting to hide the fact that they are
being bullied.

Avoiding Technology: Take note of the frequency of the amount of time your teen spends online,
especially if they have always enjoyed it. If they have suddenly stopped using their devices as frequently
(or possibly altogether), they may be attempting to avoid a bully.

Becoming Withdrawn: Even if your teenager has always been quiet or introverted, observe their social
behavior. Do they want to spend more and more time away from their friends and peers? Have they
suddenly started commenting on their lack of friends or how there is drama at school? Have they been
pushing away people they are close to and wanting to spend more time alone?

Increase in Messages: Has your teen started to receive a lot more messages or emails than they usually
do? Are they from numbers or people you don’t recognize? Is your teenager evasive when you ask them
who is contacting them?

Depression: Has your teen’s mood changed? Do they often seem sad or depressed? Has there been a
drastic change in their eating or sleeping patterns? Are they claiming to be sick more often to avoid
going to school or social events? Have they lost interest in other activities or hobbies?
One of these symptoms alone may not be immediate cause for concern, but if you begin to notice your
teen continually exhibiting many of these behaviors, it may be time to address your concerns with them.

The Potential Effects of Cyberbullying

Traditional bullying is known to have adverse effects on victims. Academic performance can suffer and
anxiety and depression can develop — and these issues can continue into adulthood. And much like
traditional bullying, cyberbullying can have severe negative consequences for the victim.

Victims may experience the following effects after being cyberbullied:

Decreased Self-Esteem: Bullying of all kinds is often detrimental to the victim’s self-esteem. Victims may
believe that all of their peers dislike them and develop issues with trust and confidence.

Emotional Distress: Cyberbullying can lead to a shift in mood or emotion in the victim. The constant
stress of the attacks can make victims prone to outbursts of frustration, sadness, or anger as they try to
cope with the bullying.

Physical Symptoms: Victims may begin to develop frequent headaches, stomachaches, and trouble
sleeping. Though they are not attacked physically by the bully, the ongoing stress of the harassment may
still take a physical toll as the victim grows increasingly stressed and anxious.

Depression: Cyberbullying can cause victims to develop depression. The constant stress and lowered
self-esteem can cause them to feel hopeless, unloved, and sad.

Suicidal Thoughts: A study published in ScienceDaily indicates that cyberbullying victims are twice as
likely to attempt suicide or engage in self-harming behaviors. Bullying does not directly cause victims to
commit suicide, but it does put them at a higher risk of doing so.

As with traditional bullying, these issues may persist even after the victim is no longer suffering from
cyberbullying, continuing well into adulthood.

Why a person Cyberbully Others

The reasons why one teen chooses to bully another are complex and varied. They may want to feel
powerful, feel the need to act out for attention, or feel like they must control others. While each
person’s motives are different, similar factors may come into play when teenagers choose to cyberbully:

Boredom: Some teens may simply be bored or craving attention. It is a way to add excitement or drama
to their lives with very little effort. Cyberbullying often will become a new form of online entertainment.

Peer Pressure: Some bullies may be trying to impress their peers, become more popular, or maintain
their social status. Being part of a group can give people a false sense of security that their actions are
acceptable or normal.
Revenge: Teens may choose to cyberbully someone because they feel wronged by that person or that
their victim deserves it. The bully may feel that their behavior is justified due to the pain the victim
previously inflicted upon them.

Anonymity: Cyberbullies can embrace the chance to be anonymous by doing all of their harassment
online under another identity. They may feel like they will not get caught and do not have to face their
victim directly.

Ignorance: Some cyberbullies may simply not realize that what they are doing is, in fact, bullying. They
may think it is just a joke and not take the situation seriously.

Masquerading

Masquerading occurs when the bully, or possibly even bullies, assumes another identity to anonymously
harass the victim. They may either impersonate someone else, use a real person’s account or phone
number, or create an entirely fake identity. Often, the bully will know the victim well if they feel the
need to hide their identity. The bully may harass or cyberstalk the victim. This is typically done in an
attempt to amuse themselves or humiliate the victim.

Fraping

Fraping is the act of logging in to someone’s social media profile and posting inappropriate content
under their name. While many people consider this to be a funny joke, fraping can hurt someone’s
reputation, get them in trouble with family, or otherwise embarrass or harm them.

https://online.maryville.edu/blog/what-is-cyberbullying-an-overview-for-students-parents-and-
teachers/

https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying