Cyberbullying: Definition, Laws, Effects, and Prevention

Introduction

Bullying is a seemingly straightforward concept that can be surprisingly difficult to discuss. There is genuine disagreement about what types of behavior actually constitute bullying. As awareness of bullying as a social problem has grown, so has the tendency to label non-bullying behaviors as bullying. While it is never pleasant for people to be mean or cruel to one another, not all unwanted behaviors properly fall under the bullying umbrella. Including them there only confuses real discussions about the problem, because bullying is often dismissed as normal behavior. While being mean or aggressive on occasion may fall within the range of normal human behavior, bullying genuinely falls outside the norm. Normalizing it by conflating it with any kind of aggression makes it difficult to identify bullying and successfully intervene.

Many school districts have also unwittingly taken actions that may actually help bullies. Numerous schools have adopted zero-tolerance policies, the goal of which is to eradicate bullying by intervening at the first sign of problematic behavior. Unfortunately, when behaviors are addressed without a thorough examination of their underlying context, the result is often that the victim of bullying receives the same punishment as the bully. This happens because bullying is not the same as isolated aggressive or even violent behavior.

Instead, bullying refers to a pattern of behavior. "Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019).

When considered in this context, it becomes clear that bullying is extremely context-dependent. The very same behaviors that constitute bullying in one scenario may not in another, because of the balance of power. "Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). It is equally important to recognize that power can shift, even within a closed group. Victims can outgrow bullies physically, gain access to embarrassing information of their own, or simply become more popular. Therefore, while the history between a victim and a bully can be important context, it may not be determinative.

Defining Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying refers to "the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. By definition, it occurs among young people. When an adult is involved, it may meet the definition of cyber-harassment or cyberstalking, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail time" (Hirsch, 2014). Behaviors that may qualify as cyberbullying include sending threatening messages, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing pictures or texts, making verbal attacks, and deliberately excluding people. One common tactic is for bullies to create fake accounts in a victim's name, or to create accounts and threads with the sole purpose of attacking the victim.

Cyberbullying can sometimes be difficult to detect. Technology can make it hard to discern tone and intent in online and social media interactions. As a result, a text, tweet, or post that one person shares with no harmful intention may be received very negatively by another. If this is an isolated incident—even if it could technically be repeated—it might not constitute cyberbullying. However, if the same behavior recurs repeatedly, it likely qualifies.

Cyberbullying Statistics

Many people want to know how many young people are victims of cyberbullying, but providing reliable statistics is difficult for several reasons. First, although cyberbullying can leave a digital trail, it often occurs in child-only environments that are outside regular adult supervision. Unless a child reports the bullying, it is unlikely to be accidentally discovered—making it different from traditional bullying, where an adult might inadvertently witness the behavior.

Bullying victims also frequently take pains to hide the problem from the adults in their lives. In some cases, this may be because the bullying is connected to something involving the parents—such as a lack of money or a parent's addiction. In other cases, victims fear that reporting will make the bullying worse rather than stop it. Whatever the reason, many victims never report bullying, even when it is severe.

Despite these limitations, researchers have developed estimates of cyberbullying frequency. Recent studies have found that about 1 in 4 teens have been victims of cyberbullying (Hirsch, 2014). Some studies suggest that half of all teens have experienced some form of abuse through social or digital media, even if these incidents do not rise to the level of bullying (Hirsch, 2014). Perhaps most alarming is that approximately 1 in 6 teens admit to having cyberbullied someone in the past (Hirsch, 2014). This figure reveals one of the insidious aspects of cyberbullying: the online environment appears to lower the threshold for bullying behavior, which increases not only the frequency of bullying incidents but also the number of people who become bullies.

Effects of Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can have serious negative effects not only on victims, but also on bullies themselves and on other students in their schools or peer groups. Surprisingly, both victims and bullies can experience some of the same consequences of severe and frequent cyberbullying, including stress-related disorders, anxiety, and depression. Many people are aware that bullying can contribute to depression, but it is equally important to recognize that both bullies and victims face an elevated risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicide.

Parents and educators may not always be able to recognize depression, anxiety, or a stress-related disorder in a child. However, adults can watch for behavioral signs that are easier to detect. Both victims and bullies may display heightened emotions when using technology—becoming upset, withdrawn, or anxious when on their phones, tablets, or computers. Both groups may be secretive or protective about their digital lives. Victims, in particular, may try to conceal the bullying out of fear that detection will result in losing access to their devices.

Cyberbullying often causes withdrawal from a child's regular support network, including friends and family. Victims may begin avoiding group gatherings or even school attendance, sometimes faking illness or deliberately misbehaving in order to be suspended or expelled. Both victims and bullies may experience a decline in academic performance. Recognizing these warning signs early can be critical to intervening before the effects become more serious.

Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a complex issue with no single solution. The definition of bullying—including cyberbullying—is an evolving one, continuously shaped by changes in technology. The inability of victims to escape bullying has intensified its consequences, with some victims choosing suicide as a means of ending the harassment. Given how serious these consequences can be, it is essential to continue discussing the issue openly and honestly, even when there are no easy answers or clear solutions to the problem.

References

Common Sense Media. "Cyberbullying: What You Need to Know." Understood. 2019. Accessed 22 July 2019.

Findlaw. "Cyberbullying Laws." Findlaw. 2019. https://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/cyber-bullying.html. Accessed 22 July 2019.

Hirsch, Larissa. "Cyberbullying." Kids Health. June 2014. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cyberbullying.html. Accessed 22 July 2019.

Pacer. "Cyberbullying." Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center. 2019.