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Home / Parenting, Kids & Teens / What is cyberbullying and how can it be prevented?

What is cyberbullying and how can it be prevented?

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Bullying has blighted childhood and growing up since time began. Bullying can include mean words, teasing, spiteful pranks, the spreading of false rumors, name-calling, the taking of personal items, exclusion from social groups and events, graffiti scrawled on a locker, pushing and shoving, harassment, threats, and in its worst form, physical violence. Bullying is repetitive, not just a single act of aggression.

Kids who are bullied often withdraw socially, begin to underperform academically, feel anxious, sleep badly, and may eventually become depressed and feel trapped if the bullying goes on long enough.

As seen in the media, extreme bullying scenarios have resulted in a tragic and growing list of young people who take their own lives, at least in part to escape persistent bullying.

Most forms of in-person bullying now also take place online, potentially doubling a child’s exposure to bullying. Online, screen-based or technology-based bullying, which can happen across any medium where social interaction takes place, is called cyberbullying.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying involves actions like:

• Sharing photos or videos of people without consent to embarrass them, make them feel bad about themselves, or enact revenge for a friendship or relationship that has broken down.
• Name-calling, teasing, belittling, mocking or social exclusion.
• Spreading false rumors.
• Creating fake social media accounts in an individual’s name and posting outrageous statements about a peer to isolate, degrade and prank both people.
• Circulating a person’s private messages sent in confidence to a group for amusement and the power of violating privacy.
• Sharing a person’s videos sent in confidence with a chat group or a class to cause embarrassment and ridicule.
• Sending anonymous critical, harassing or threatening messages to people to damage their self-esteem, make them doubt that their friendship group cares for them or instill a sense of not being safe.
• Texting or direct-messaging explicit, unsolicited images, real, altered or fake.
• Leaking an individual’s personal information such as home address or phone number to peer groups to invade privacy and encourage personal attacks.
• Unsolicited forwarding to an individual hurtful or hateful comments that were made by a social peer to undermine confidence and cause conflict within a social group.
• Posting mocking or spiteful comments on an individual’s social media accounts both to cause upset and to encourage other followers, usually from the same school, to join in, triggering group cyberbullying.

While cyberbullying seems at first glance different from in-person bullying, [WNJ1]  experts see similarities.

“It’s the same sort of behavior,” says Bridget K. Biggs, Ph.D., L.P., a psychologist at Mayo Clinic. “Verbal aggression like name-calling, relational aggression like spreading rumors and trying to cut people out of relationships, and threatening or physical aggression — the effects are about the same, broadly speaking: lower mood, reduced self-esteem and anxiety, particularly social anxiety.”

Dr. Biggs underscores one key difference: unlike in-person bullying — unless it is caught on school security cameras — cyberbullying can be proved.

“Cyberbullying leaves a trail of indelible evidence, with the exception of disappearing message capabilities unless one can take a screenshot fast enough. But if a peer sends an unflattering or sexualized video or photo, that’s out in cyberspace forever. So there are positives and negatives to this permanence.”

What is the percentage of cyberbullying?

“The good news is that bullying overall, including cyberbullying, tends to decline after its prevalence peaks in mid-adolescence,” affirms Dr Biggs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cyberbullying is experienced by the highest percentage of kids in middle schools (33%) followed by high schools (30%) and primary schools (5%).

Among high school students in the U.S., 1 in 6 has been cyberbullied, compared with 1 in 5 who has been bullied in person. Furthermore, for children who identify as LGBTQ+, the Cyberbullying Research Center reports that 31% experience cyberbullying versus 21% of heterosexual students.

It’s no wonder that when Google surveyed U.S. teachers in 2019, bullying and cyberbullying headlined as their No. 1 concern.

What is the difference between cyberbullying and bullying?

Cyberbullying Facts: There are several ways that cyberbullying differs from in-person bullying:

What are the effects of cyberbullying?

If you were ever bullied at school, you’ll remember how quickly you felt shut out of life and how going into school each day was fraught with fear or a feeling of torture. Targets of cyberbullying are affected in much the same way as those bullied in person and can develop some or all of the following symptoms:

• Difficulties sleeping.
• Not wanting to go to school.
• Declining academic performance.
• Acting distracted at home.
• Reduced self-esteem.
• Feelings of not fitting in or belonging.

As the extent or longevity of bullying increase, it’s possible for more extreme reactions to occur, including:

• Self-harming behaviors such as cutting or burning.
• Depression.
• Thoughts of dropping out of school.
• Suicidal thoughts.
• Suicide attempts.

“With traditional face-to-face bullying,” says Dr. Biggs, “when you get home, you at least get a break from it. But if that social connection is also online, then you are still connected via cyberspace when you get home. Cyberspace therefore becomes just one more place to experience bullying.”

In a rare minority of cases, there have been tragic, high-profile stories of kids in the U.S. driven to suicide by cyberbullying. However, research on this subject by Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center is careful to underscore that suicide is always complex, with multifaceted drivers.

“There’s an increased risk for suicidality if a child is being bullied, yes,” Dr Biggs adds. “But note that of all the kids experiencing bullying, it’s a really small number who commit suicide. That’s important for parents to know.”

Why do people cyberbully?

As with in-person bullying, bullies court popularity and power and see bullying as a means to exert influence, control friendships, and dominate classrooms and playgrounds. In making others feel small, they feel bigger. There are often familial factors behind bullying and cyberbullying, and those can include witnessing verbal or physical aggression at home, which can lead to similar behavior socially or at school. With cyberbullying, if the bully has a high number of followers on social media, the validation of likes and shares for bullying behaviors can be intoxicating and signal a formula for popularity.

How to stop a child who is cyberbullying

• Explain what cyberbullying is , how it traumatizes others and its consequences.
• Set out what behaviors are unacceptable and explain that you will monitor behavior.
• Praise improved behaviors and set consequences, such as limiting gaming time, if your child cyberbullies again.
• Propose a meeting with administrators at your child’s school if behavior deteriorates.

Is cyberbullying illegal?

Strictly speaking, no. But if cyberbullying touches on laws around stalking, criminal online harassment or sexting that involves third-party possession or wider distribution of nude photos of minors, then authorities can be engaged. And if cyberbullying — as with in-person bullying — leads to a physical attack on the victim, then assault charges may become valid. Relative to state and federal law, schools can intervene when bullying of a student is taking place by another student or group of students, though according to Pew Research Center, only 34% of parents whose child is being cyberbullied report it to the child’s school.

How can parents prevent cyberbullying?

One can’t prevent cyberbullying. After all, it’s impossible to live screen-free in our world today. But Dr. Biggs does advocate parents helping their child divert focus toward building a healthy social circle.

“The effects of being bullied are mitigated when people have strong social support,” she explains. “Even one good-quality friendship can make a difference. If a child has this, then the child may feel able to say ‘That’s a chat group I don’t want to be part of.’ Parents can support their kids by encouraging the fostering of friendships and activities that are positive. You can even ask: ”Who do you want to surround yourself with?’ That’s a very positive coping strategy, surrounding yourself with good people.”

As well as encouraging positive friendships, parents can also help clarify context.

“With cyberbullying,” Dr Biggs says, “if children show you a message that upsets them, which the cyberbully is calling a joke, you might say something like, ‘Well I didn’t find that very funny — I suggest you shrug it off and don’t engage, because this person just wants to pull you in.’ “

Dr. Biggs, a mother of two herself, sees conversations about cyberbullying as just another part of teaching children about online safety.

“Start having conversations about safe behaviors online as soon as your kid begins using technology. That shouldn’t be one conversation; it should be ongoing. You need to talk about phishing, scamming, people who may say they’re somebody but they’re actually somebody else and what information is safe to provide. And you should warn that there are people who do mean things online who might also do mean things in person. If kids already have that awareness, then when it happens, they can think, ‘I remember, a safe adult told me about that and predicted that this is something that could happen.’ “

Overall, though, Dr Biggs advises a delicate balance of supervision and distance.

“Not helicopter parenting and not letting them fly the helicopter,” she says. “Kids are more likely to use the internet safely and positively when their parents pay attention to what they are doing, provide guidance and set limits around use — but also allow some choice, input and autonomous decision-making, all while keeping the lines of communication open between themselves and their kids. It seems that providing some education about the benefits and dangers of the internet — including the possibility of aggression occurring in digital platforms — is beneficial. As with other responsibilities, it makes sense to ease restrictions and allow greater autonomy and choice as kids get older and as they demonstrate their ability to use the resource responsibly.”

How kids can limit their exposure to cyberbullying

• Never respond unless a parent encourages you to assert a clear boundary and take a screenshot of your request — for example, “Please stop saying these things to me,” “I don’t want you to treat me this way” — so it can be used as evidence of online harassment, if needed.
• Take a screenshot of all hostilities to establish a record of evidence.
• Show a parent the messages or comments and talk it over.
• Block and report cyberbullies on social media if doing so won’t inflame an already difficult situation.
• If your parents agree, arrange a discrete meeting with a teacher.
• Use privacy settings to protect personal posts on social media from being accessed by strangers.
• Wait for at least 60 minutes before acting on an impulse to share sensitive photos, videos or information with a peer.
• Have designated digital-free time each day .

The future of cyberbullying

Because it is next to impossible to live in a device-free world while growing up nowadays, parents may fear that nothing can stop their child being cyberbullied. However, Dr. Biggs cites one effective peer-to-peer method that does work: upstanding.

“Upstanding is when witnesses speak up and communicate that aggression is not acceptable and that treating others with respect is socially desirable or ‘cool,’ ” Dr Biggs says. “That does reduce bullying.”

There are also small poignant ways parents can reduce bullying of any type though, as Dr Biggs concludes:

“I heard of a parent responding to news that her child had been bullying another child on the bus. She told her son that she had heard that bullying had been happening — without indicating that she knew who was doing it — and asked him to look out for the child, as she knew that child to be a kind and responsible person. The bullying stopped.”

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Cyberbullying: Everything You Need to Know

• Cyberbullying
• How to Respond

Cyberbullying is the act of intentionally and consistently mistreating or harassing someone through the use of electronic devices or other forms of electronic communication (like social media platforms).

Because cyberbullying mainly affects children and adolescents, many brush it off as a part of growing up. However, cyberbullying can have dire mental and emotional consequences if left unaddressed.

This article discusses cyberbullying, its adverse effects, and what can be done about it.

FangXiaNuo / Getty Images

Cyberbullying Statistics and State Laws

The rise of digital communication methods has paved the way for a new type of bullying to form, one that takes place outside of the schoolyard. Cyberbullying follows kids home, making it much more difficult to ignore or cope.

Statistics 

As many as 15% of young people between 12 and 18 have been cyberbullied at some point. However, over 25% of children between 13 and 15 were cyberbullied in one year alone.

About 6.2% of people admitted that they’ve engaged in cyberbullying at some point in the last year. The age at which a person is most likely to cyberbully one of their peers is 13.

Those subject to online bullying are twice as likely to self-harm or attempt suicide . The percentage is much higher in young people who identify as LGBTQ, at 56%.

Cyberbullying by Sex and Sexual Orientation

Cyberbullying statistics differ among various groups, including:

• Girls and boys reported similar numbers when asked if they have been cyberbullied, at 23.7% and 21.9%, respectively.
• LGBTQ adolescents report cyberbullying at higher rates, at 31.7%. Up to 56% of young people who identify as LGBTQ have experienced cyberbullying.
• Transgender teens were the most likely to be cyberbullied, at a significantly high rate of 35.4%.

State Laws 

The laws surrounding cyberbullying vary from state to state. However, all 50 states have developed and implemented specific policies or laws to protect children from being cyberbullied in and out of the classroom.

The laws were put into place so that students who are being cyberbullied at school can have access to support systems, and those who are being cyberbullied at home have a way to report the incidents.

Legal policies or programs developed to help stop cyberbullying include:

• Bullying prevention programs
• Cyberbullying education courses for teachers
• Procedures designed to investigate instances of cyberbullying
• Support systems for children who have been subject to cyberbullying 

Are There Federal Laws Against Cyberbullying?

There are no federal laws or policies that protect people from cyberbullying. However, federal involvement may occur if the bullying overlaps with harassment. Federal law will get involved if the bullying concerns a person’s race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion.

Examples of Cyberbullying 

There are several types of bullying that can occur online, and they all look different.

Harassment can include comments, text messages, or threatening emails designed to make the cyberbullied person feel scared, embarrassed, or ashamed of themselves.

Other forms of harassment include:

• Using group chats as a way to gang up on one person
• Making derogatory comments about a person based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, or other characteristics
• Posting mean or untrue things on social media sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, as a way to publicly hurt the person experiencing the cyberbullying  

Impersonation

A person may try to pretend to be the person they are cyberbullying to attempt to embarrass, shame, or hurt them publicly. Some examples of this include:

• Hacking into someone’s online profile and changing any part of it, whether it be a photo or their "About Me" portion, to something that is either harmful or inappropriate
• Catfishing, which is when a person creates a fake persona to trick someone into a relationship with them as a joke or for their own personal gain
• Making a fake profile using the screen name of their target to post inappropriate or rude remarks on other people’s pages

Other Examples

Not all forms of cyberbullying are the same, and cyberbullies use other tactics to ensure that their target feels as bad as possible. Some tactics include:

• Taking nude or otherwise degrading photos of a person without their consent
• Sharing or posting nude pictures with a wide audience to embarrass the person they are cyberbullying
• Sharing personal information about a person on a public website that could cause them to feel unsafe
• Physically bullying someone in school and getting someone else to record it so that it can be watched and passed around later
• Circulating rumors about a person

How to Know When a Joke Turns Into Cyberbullying

People may often try to downplay cyberbullying by saying it was just a joke. However, any incident that continues to make a person feel shame, hurt, or blatantly disrespected is not a joke and should be addressed. People who engage in cyberbullying tactics know that they’ve crossed these boundaries, from being playful to being harmful.

Effects and Consequences of Cyberbullying 

Research shows many negative effects of cyberbullying, some of which can lead to severe mental health issues. Cyberbullied people are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts, actions, or behaviors and engage in self-harm as those who are not.

Other negative health consequences of cyberbullying are:

• Stomach pain and digestive issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Difficulties with academics
• Violent behaviors
• High levels of stress
• Inability to feel safe
• Feelings of loneliness and isolation
• Feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness

If You’ve Been Cyberbullied 

Being on the receiving end of cyberbullying is hard to cope with. It can feel like you have nowhere to turn and no escape. However, some things can be done to help overcome cyberbullying experiences.

Advice for Preteens and Teenagers

The best thing you can do if you’re being cyberbullied is tell an adult you trust. It may be challenging to start the conversation because you may feel ashamed or embarrassed. However, if it is not addressed, it can get worse.

Other ways you can cope with cyberbullying include:

• Walk away : Walking away online involves ignoring the bullies, stepping back from your computer or phone, and finding something you enjoy doing to distract yourself from the bullying.
• Don’t retaliate : You may want to defend yourself at the time. But engaging with the bullies can make matters worse.
• Keep evidence : Save all copies of the cyberbullying, whether it be posts, texts, or emails, and keep them if the bullying escalates and you need to report them.
• Report : Social media sites take harassment seriously, and reporting them to site administrators may block the bully from using the site.
• Block : You can block your bully from contacting you on social media platforms and through text messages.

In some cases, therapy may be a good option to help cope with the aftermath of cyberbullying.

Advice for Parents

As a parent, watching your child experience cyberbullying can be difficult. To help in the right ways, you can:

• Offer support and comfort : Listening to your child explain what's happening can be helpful. If you've experienced bullying as a child, sharing that experience may provide some perspective on how it can be overcome and that the feelings don't last forever.
• Make sure they know they are not at fault : Whatever the bully uses to target your child can make them feel like something is wrong with them. Offer praise to your child for speaking up and reassure them that it's not their fault.
• Contact the school : Schools have policies to protect children from bullying, but to help, you have to inform school officials.
• Keep records : Ask your child for all the records of the bullying and keep a copy for yourself. This evidence will be helpful to have if the bullying escalates and further action needs to be taken.
• Try to get them help : In many cases, cyberbullying can lead to mental stress and sometimes mental health disorders. Getting your child a therapist gives them a safe place to work through their experience.

In the Workplace 

Although cyberbullying more often affects children and adolescents, it can also happen to adults in the workplace. If you are dealing with cyberbullying at your workplace, you can:

• Let your bully know how what they said affected you and that you expect it to stop.
• Keep copies of any harassment that goes on in the workplace.
• Report your cyberbully to your human resources (HR) department.
• Report your cyberbully to law enforcement if you are being threatened.
• Close off all personal communication pathways with your cyberbully.
• Maintain a professional attitude at work regardless of what is being said or done.
• Seek out support through friends, family, or professional help.

Effective Action Against Cyberbullying

If cyberbullying continues, actions will have to be taken to get it to stop, such as:

• Talking to a school official : Talking to someone at school may be difficult, but once you do, you may be grateful that you have some support. Schools have policies to address cyberbullying.
• Confide in parents or trusted friends : Discuss your experience with your parents or others you trust. Having support on your side will make you feel less alone.
• Report it on social media : Social media sites have strict rules on the types of interactions and content sharing allowed. Report your aggressor to the site to get them banned and eliminate their ability to contact you.
• Block the bully : Phones, computers, and social media platforms contain options to block correspondence from others. Use these blocking tools to help free yourself from cyberbullying.

Help Is Available

If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial  988  to contact the  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline  and connect with a trained counselor. To find mental health resources in your area, contact the  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline  at  800-662-4357  for information.

Cyberbullying occurs over electronic communication methods like cell phones, computers, social media, and other online platforms. While anyone can be subject to cyberbullying, it is most likely to occur between the ages of 12 and 18.

Cyberbullying can be severe and lead to serious health issues, such as new or worsened mental health disorders, sleep issues, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm. There are laws to prevent cyberbullying, so it's essential to report it when it happens. Coping strategies include stepping away from electronics, blocking bullies, and getting.

Alhajji M, Bass S, Dai T. Cyberbullying, mental health, and violence in adolescents and associations with sex and race: data from the 2015 youth risk behavior survey . Glob Pediatr Health. 2019;6:2333794X19868887. doi:10.1177/2333794X19868887

Cyberbullying Research Center. Cyberbullying in 2021 by age, gender, sexual orientation, and race .

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: StopBullying.gov. Facts about bullying .

John A, Glendenning AC, Marchant A, et al. Self-harm, suicidal behaviours, and cyberbullying in children and young people: systematic review .  J Med Internet Res . 2018;20(4):e129. doi:10.2196/jmir.9044

Cyberbullying Research Center. Bullying, cyberbullying, and LGBTQ students .

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: StopBullying.gov. Laws, policies, and regulations .

Wolke D, Lee K, Guy A. Cyberbullying: a storm in a teacup? . Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017;26(8):899-908. doi:10.1007/s00787-017-0954-6

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: StopBullying.gov. Cyberbullying tactics .

Garett R, Lord LR, Young SD. Associations between social media and cyberbullying: a review of the literature . mHealth . 2016;2:46-46. doi:10.21037/mhealth.2016.12.01

Nemours Teens Health. Cyberbullying .

Nixon CL. Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health . Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2014;5:143-58. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S36456

Nemours Kids Health. Cyberbullying (for parents) .

By Angelica Bottaro Angelica Bottaro is a professional freelance writer with over 5 years of experience. She has been educated in both psychology and journalism, and her dual education has given her the research and writing skills needed to deliver sound and engaging content in the health space.

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How to Prevent Cyberbullying

Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou

Cyberbullying is a growing social problem that has become all too common in online communities. Research indicates that one in five tweens has been cyberbullied, while 59% of teens have been harassed online. And the rate at which online bullying is occurring does not seem to be declining.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberbullying escalated . During stay-at-home orders, research shows cyberbullying increased 70% and toxicity on online gaming platforms increased 40%.

These numbers illustrate that despite increased education and improved school bullying prevention programs , incidences of cyberbullying continue to escalate. So parents need to do what they can to prevent cyberbullying in their kids' lives.

Why Prevention Is Important

Cyberbullying is deliberately and repeatedly inflicting harm using electronic devices, gaming apps, and online social media platforms. It often manifests as hate accounts, hurtful social media posts, online rumors and gossip , and mean comments while gaming. The intention is almost always to embarrass, threaten, humiliate, intimidate, or abuse the intended target.

Research has shown that those who are cyberbullied suffer a number of different consequences , including struggling emotionally, physically, mentally, and academically. What's more, cyberbullying is a significant stressor in a young person's life. Cyberbullying leaves young people feeling hurt, embarrassed, and sometimes even scared.

Not only do they often blame themselves for the torment and harassment they experience, but they also are left feeling extremely stressed out. In fact, one study found that nearly 35% of those targeted by cyberbullies reported symptoms of stress.

Kids targeted by cyberbullies also may experience physical symptoms in response to the stress they are experiencing. They may complain of stomachaches, headaches, skin conditions, and other physical ailments.

Kids' sleeping and eating habits can be impacted by cyberbullying. Sometimes kids who are cyberbullied will crash diet or binge eat as either a way of coping with the cyberbullying or as an attempt to alter the way they look in hopes the cyberbullying will end.

Grades and extracurricular activities may also suffer as a result of harassment. Teens may skip school or have trouble concentrating on their studies because cyberbullying is consuming all of their time and energy.

It's also not uncommon for cyberbullying victims to feel alone and isolated. Many kids who are targeted report being ostracized at school . This experience, in turn, impacts their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth. Ultimately, cyberbullying can lead to self-harm and even suicidal thoughts.

When kids are regularly harassed by others through social media posts, text messages, instant messaging, and blog posts, they can start to feel hopeless. They may start to think that the only way to escape the torment is through suicide. Because the risks associated with cyberbullying are so significant, it's important that parents take steps to prevent cyberbullying in their kids' lives.

If your tween or teen is having suicidal thoughts, they can contact the  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  at  988  for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If they are in immediate danger, call 911.

Ways to Manage Cyberbullying

While there is no foolproof way to prevent your child from ever being cyberbullied, there are things you can do together to reduce the likelihood they will be targeted. This includes implementing safety measures as well as having ongoing conversations about cyberbullying. You need to discuss what cyberbullying is, the risks associated with experiencing it, and how it can escalate.

It's also important to talk to your tweens and teens about how to use social media safely and responsibly and what they should do if they are bullied online.

Protect Accounts and Devices

When it comes to preventing cyberbullying, and similar behaviors like catfishing , it's important that your child use passwords on everything. Passwords are one of the most effective ways to protect accounts and devices.

Emphasize that your child should never share their passwords with anyone, including their best friend. Even though they may trust that friend implicitly, the reality is that friends come and go and there is no guarantee they are going to be friends forever.

Use Privacy Tools and Settings

No matter what your teen does online, make sure they are aware of the privacy settings and tools offered by the organization. Almost every social media platform including Instagram , Twitter, SnapChat , and TikTok have privacy settings.

Go through each account with your child and help them set their privacy settings to the most secure settings. This means making accounts private, preventing people from tagging them, requiring other people to get permission before sharing one of their photos, and so on.

Keep Personal Stuff Private

Kids should never share their address, cell phone number, or email address online. They should be careful about sharing too much information about where they go to school, especially if they have friends or followers online that they don't know really well.

Remind them that people are not always who they claim to be online. Even though the profile photo is of a teenage girl, that doesn't mean the person behind the account is actually a teenage girl. It could be someone pretending to be a young girl in order to gather information on other teens.

Manage Location Sharing

Some smartphones allow users to share their location with friends. This means that if they share their location with people, these people will always know where they are. Have a discussion with your child about who they can share their location with or if they can share it at all.

Likewise, some photos taken with smartphones already contain geotags that indicate where the photo was taken. People can use these photos to determine your child's location, even if they never mention where the photo was taken.

Your child needs to be mindful about which photos they are sharing and when. For instance, you may want them to refrain from posting vacation pictures until you have returned from vacation. This way, you are not letting the entire online world know that no one is at your home for the next two weeks.

Teach Them to Think Before Posting

Help your tweens and teens get in the habit of taking some time before posting. For instance, they could create a post offline and then come back to it in an hour and decide if they still want to post it. Doing so will keep them from posting things that they may later regret.

Cyberbullies may take what your child posted and use it against them in some way, so it might be helpful to encourage your child to take time to think before posting. Of course, if someone wants to use something against them, it won't necessarily matter what the content is.

But by taking their time to craft a post, your child will be able to think through what they are posting and determine whether or not it's something they want to say publicly. This is a good practice for kids in order to maintain a healthy relationship with social media.

You also need to teach your tween or teen how to practice digital etiquette . Using social media and other online tools is a privilege, not a right, and one that can be taken away if they are unable to use it responsibly.

Conduct a Social Media Audit

Every month or so, sit down with your tween or teen and go through their social media accounts. Together, determine what posts may need to be deleted from their account. This exercise is especially important as they prepare to apply to college or look for a new job.

Many times, college recruiters and hiring managers will look through an applicant's social media accounts to get a feel for their personality and character. Together along with your teen, be sure your teen's posts and photos are sending the message they want others to receive.

Log Out When Using Public Devices

Remind your tween or teen that when they are using public computers or laptops at school or the library, they should log out of any account they use. This includes logging out of email, social media accounts, their school account, Amazon account, and any other account they may open.

Simply closing the tab is not enough. If someone gets on the computer immediately after they are done, they may still be able to get into your child's account. And once they have access, they can take control of that account by changing passwords.

Once they have control, they can impersonate your child online by making fake posts and comments that make your child look bad. Plus, once you lose access to an account, it can be difficult and time-consuming to regain control.

Refuse to Respond to Cyberbullies

If your child does experience cyberbullying, they should refrain from responding. This means they should not argue, try to explain, or engage in any way with a cyberbully.

Cyberbullies are looking for an emotional response, but if your child refuses to give them anything to go on, they are left with one-sided communications.

In the meantime, they should take screenshots of the harassment and save it as proof of the encounter. This documentation may be needed when reporting a cyberbully.

Report Cyberbullies

Make sure your child knows that they should always report cyberbullying. This includes not only telling you what is happening, but also letting the social media platform, internet service provider, and any other necessary parties know what is going on. You may even need to contact the school or the police to put an end to the harassment.

Once all the reports have been filed, take the appropriate steps to block the person or account responsible for the cyberbullying. Doing so doesn't prevent them from using a different account or a public space to continue to cyberbully your tween or teen, but it will slow them down.

Teens also should learn to be good bystanders too. If they witness cyberbullying online, they should refrain from participating in the cyberbullying and instead look for ways to support the person being targeted. They should also report what they witness online to a responsible adult like you, a teacher, or a principal—especially if they know who is doing the cyberbullying.

More often than not, kids are cyberbullied by people they know from their school or their community. So standing up for the person being targeted can help prevent future cyberbullying incidents, especially if the cyberbully is not getting the reaction they want.

A Word From Verywell

Whether you are looking to protect your child as they embark on the online world or they have already experienced cyberbullying, it is never too late (or too early) to implement strategies to prevent cyberbullying. Even college students and young adults can benefit from added safety measures.

Sit down with your kids and strategize how they can not only use online tools safely, but also how they can protect themselves from trolls , cyberbullies, and other toxic people online. You should also talk to them about what steps to take if they are cyberbullied, including how to report cyberbullying to the appropriate authorities.

And remember, technology and the internet are not the issue. It's the people who use it to harm others that are the real problem. Try to refrain from taking away technology or limiting your child's access to online tools. Instead, teach them how to use these tools safely and responsibly. Doing so will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Cyberbullying Research Center in Partnership With Cartoon Network. Tween cyberbullying in 2020 .

Pew Research Center. A majority of teens have experienced some form of cyberbullying .

L1ght.  Rising levels of hate speech & online toxicity during this time of crisis .

Nixon CL.  Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health .  Adolesc Health Med Ther . 2014;5:143-58. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S36456

Extremera N, Quintana-Orts C, Mérida-López S, Rey L.  Cyberbullying victimization, self-esteem and suicidal ideation in adolescence: does emotional intelligence play a buffering role? .  Front Psychol . 2018;9:367. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00367

Alavi N, Reshetukha T, Prost E, et al.  Relationship between bullying and suicidal behaviour in youth presenting to the emergency department .  JdCan Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry . 2017;26(2):70-77.

By Sherri Gordon Sherri Gordon, CLC is a published author, certified professional life coach, and bullying prevention expert. 

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Cyberbullying: What It is and How to Prevent It

Published on Oct 27, 2020

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices." It's different than traditional bullying, but no less traumatizing to its victims. In fact, because virtual messages and images can be spread to a larger audience and have the potential to go "viral," cyberbullying can have a far-reaching and life-altering effect on those involved.

A few examples of cyberbullying:

• Sending a hurtful text to an individual, or spreading rumors or sensitive information about that person via texts or social media posts
• Sharing pictures, videos or profiles on social media channels to make fun of others
• Distributing private or unauthorized photos or videos to embarrass or harass someone
• Using anonymous apps or interactive capabilities on gaming systems to tear down or humiliate others

Cyberbullying is an equal opportunity crime. Recent research shows that boys and girls are equally likely to participate in or be a victim of bullying online. According to one recent study, 20-30% of teens report they have been bullied online; while 10-15% admit bullying others online.

School-based interventions

Many schools implement Social Emotional Learning lessons or Bullying Prevention programs with their students. Several of these programs – Second Step , Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and CHOP's own Friend to Friend Program – have had success in reducing student reports of aggression, bullying and/or antisocial behavior, as well as improving peer relations. They help students gain social coping skills, provide assertiveness training, and offer tools to help students remain as safe as possible.

"These skills are particularly important in middle school when relational aggression and bullying can escalate," Dr. Waanders says. While cyberbullying may appear at first to be playful teasing, it can quickly turn mean-spirited, leading to harassment and exclusion of children from their peer groups. Parents should talk with their children about how to apply the skills they have learned at school for coping with bullying or being a positive bystander.

Dr. Waanders also encourages parents to reach out to teachers and school administrators to learn how they are continuing social and emotional skill-building during this time of remote learning.

Home-based interventions

Cyberbullying doesn't stop when children leave school or cyber learning. Kids are online more than ever before, creating tons of opportunities for positive – and negative -- interactions with peers, adults and strangers.

How can you tell if your child has been affected by cyberbullying?

Pay attention to changes in your child's overall mood, grades and interests. If you notice dramatic changes in a short period of time, it's worth investigating why. Ask your child open-ended questions about the changes, why they are happening and if they are happy with the change or would like helping getting back to their "normal." If your child continues to seem down or distressed, consider asking for outside help.

Start the conversation. Talk to your child about bullying and cyberbullying throughout their lives, but an age-appropriate manner. Starting in fourth or fifth grade, ask if they've ever witnessed their peers being mean to or talking negatively about a classmate online. What did your child do during and after the incident: Did they try to stop the abuse? Did they "like" the comment, thinking it was a joke? Or did they stay silent?

Shift the conversation to ask your child whether anyone has ever been mean to them online or by text. Did they consider it cyberbullying?

By using real-life examples, you can guide your child through their options and help them decide what they would feel comfortable doing in the future – and what they'd want their friends to do if they were the victim of cyberbullying.

Monitor your child's use of electronics. This includes cell phones, computers, online gaming and social media. You don't need to be intrusive, just observant. If your child seems upset every time they look at Snapchat or play Roblox, talk to them about what's going on. Is anything or anyone bothering them? Offer your support and a listening ear. Try not to jump to conclusions or overreact; encourage them to open up to you or another trusted adult.

Some children or teens may be hesitant to talk to parents about cyberbullying because they fear it will lead to a loss of phone/computer/gaming privileges. While limiting the use of electronics may be appropriate for younger children, it's a bit more difficult for teens. "Work with your teen to empower them to make healthy choices for themselves – such as unfriending or blocking certain people on social media or gaming forums," Dr. Waanders says.

Finding local resources

Your child's distress from any form of bullying is real. As a parent or guardian, you should seek supportive resources to help your child if a problem arises. Consider a school counselor, district administrator, private therapist, pediatrician, family friend or trusted religious leader. CHOP's Center for Violence Prevention (CVP) also offers several bully prevention resources .

It is NOT recommended to confront the youth bully or their parents yourself. It's better to work through a third party – such as those listed above – who may be able to shut down the cyberbullying and help your child return to learning. Teachers and counselors may also be able to refocus aggressive energy into more positive pursuits.

If the bullying is occurring on social media or a gaming platform, encourage your child to block or unfriend the bully so they can no longer "tag" your child in posts. If the aggressor is a known fellow student, alert school officials. They are often willing to intervene, since out-of-school aggression among students can negatively impact the safe social environment they are trying to create at school.

Raising children really does take a village. We're all looking out for the best of interests of our children. Why not extend that support to your child's friends? Partner with a select group of parents of your child's friends to look out for each other's kids and alert each other (parent to parent) if anything questionable comes up. Then, each parent can ensure their child gets the support and resources they need to thrive.

Christine Waanders, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and clinical consultant for CHOP's Center for Violence Prevention. Dr. Waanders is an experienced aggression and bullying prevention researcher. She provides support and consultation to clinicians dealing with these issues with their patients.

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Cyberbullying Prevention and Intervention Efforts: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

Prévention de la cyberintimidation et initiatives d'intervention : connaissances actuelles et futures directions, dorothy l. espelage.

1 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

Jun Sung Hong

2 School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

3 Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea

Bullying is a serious public health concern that is associated with significant negative mental, social, and physical outcomes. Technological advances have increased adolescents’ use of social media, and online communication platforms have exposed adolescents to another mode of bullying— cyberbullying . Prevention and intervention materials, from websites and tip sheets to classroom curriculum, have been developed to help youth, parents, and teachers address cyberbullying. While youth and parents are willing to disclose their experiences with bullying to their health care providers, these disclosures need to be taken seriously and handled in a caring manner. Health care providers need to include questions about bullying on intake forms to encourage these disclosures. The aim of this article is to examine the current status of cyberbullying prevention and intervention. Research support for several school-based intervention programs is summarised. Recommendations for future research are provided.

L’intimidation est une préoccupation sérieuse de la santé publique qui est associée à des résultats négatifs significatifs sur le plan mental, social, et physique. Les progrès technologiques ont accru l’utilisation des médias sociaux par les adolescents et les plateformes de communication en ligne ont exposé les adolescents à un autre mode d’intimidation—la cyberintimidation . Du matériel de prévention et d’intervention, qu’il s’agisse de sites Web et de fiches-conseils ou de programmes d’étude en classe, a été mis au point pour aider les adolescents, les parents, et les enseignants à aborder la cyberintimidation. Les adolescents et les parents sont disposés à divulguer leurs expériences d’intimidation à leurs prestataires de soins de santé, mais ces divulgations doivent être prises au sérieux et traitées de manière bienveillante. Les prestataires de soins de santé doivent inclure des questions sur l’intimidation dans les formulaires d’admission pour susciter ces divulgations. Cet article vise à examiner l’état actuel de la prévention et de l’intervention en matière de cyberintimidation. Le soutien de la recherche pour plusieurs programmes d’intervention en milieu scolaire est résumé. Des recommandations sont offertes pour la recherche future.

Bullying is a serious public health issue, which has received a significant amount of research attention for several decades. Technological advances have increased adolescents’ use of social media and online communication platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. According to the Pew Research Center, 92% of children report going online daily, and 71% use more than one type of social media. 1 As a consequence, children are also increasingly exposed to another form of bullying, cyberbullying . Cyberbullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phone, or other electronic devices.” 2 Using technology, youth can send or post humiliating or threatening messages or photos of their targets to a third party or to a public forum where many online participants visit. 2

Research findings on the prevalence of cyberbullying in Canada vary. 3 For example, according to a national study in Canada, which consisted of 1001 children ages 10 to 17 years, 14% of children reported being cyberbullied once or more in the past month. 4 Other studies 5 – 8 reported much higher rates of cyberbullying than the aforementioned study. Li’s study, 6 which includes a sample of 177 seventh-grade students in an urban area in Canada, found that over one-quarter of the students had been cyberbullied. Cenat and colleagues’ study, 5 which comprised a representative sample of 8194 students in Quebec, reported that 22.9% had been cyberbullied. However, Li’s survey 7 of Canadian students in grades 7 to 12 found that over 40% had reported being cyberbullied, and the Mishina et al. 8 study from a diverse sample of middle and high school students in a large urban center in Canada found that 49.5% reported being bullied online. These inconsistent rates are likely due to the use of different definitions, measures, timeframes, and response options across assessments, which require more empirical attention. 9

Targets of cyberbullying report greater depression, anxiety, risk behaviour, and suicidality than their peers who do not report these experiences. 10 – 15 For instance, a study consisting of a sample of students in 23 urban schools located in a western province in Canada found that youth who reported being cyberbullied also reported high levels of anxious, externalising, and depressed feelings/behaviour. Furthermore, face-to-face bullying victimisation is highly correlated with cyberbullying victimisation. 16 , 17 Recognising these outcomes, prevention and intervention materials, from websites and tip sheets to classroom curriculum, are being developed to curb cyberbullying. Regrettably, little information is available for health care providers who provide services for cyberbullied children and adolescents. This article reviews the current status of cyberbullying prevention and intervention efforts and provides suggestions for future research and implications for health care providers in Canada.

Evolution of Cyberbullying and Prevention Efforts

Research on cyberbullying is relatively recent in comparison to the 4 decades of research on face-to-face bullying. Technological innovations have changed people’s interactions with one another, and these innovations provide youth with hours of communicating with others without adult supervision, creating risk for bullying through new modes of communication. 18 As Kowalski et al. 19 argued, “A decade ago, technology had not advanced to the point where cyberbullying was even an issue…unfortunately, kids are keeping pace with the changes much more readily than adults” (pp. 41-42).

In addition to emerging research evidence of the frequency and serious consequences of bullying, cyberbullying in Canada and the United States gained nationwide media attention as a result of youth suicides involving cyberbullying. In 2006, 13-year-old Megan Meier, a cyberbullying victim in the United States, hanged herself due to constant bullying about her weight. In 2010, Phoebe Prince, a 15-year-old teenager in the United States, hanged herself after enduring several months of cyberbullying from her classmates. 20 Such cases galvanised the state of Massachusetts to propose the “Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act” in 2009, but it was not enacted. In 2004, antibullying measures were proposed in the US House of Representatives to be included in the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, and all states currently have antibullying policies. Although the US Congress passed the Protecting Children in the 21st Century legislation in 2008, which also addresses cyberbullying, 21 not all states have updated their laws to include cyberbullying. At present, only 22 states in the United States have antibullying laws that include cyberbullying. 20

Canada’s recognition of cyberbullying as a social problem took a similar path. Suicides committed by 2 teens, Amanda Todd in 2012 and Rehtaeh Parsons in 2013, spurred Canada’s recognition of cyberbullying as a major public health concern. 22 In October 2012, 15-year-old Amanda Todd killed herself shortly after she was being bullied by her classmates. Prior to her suicide, she posted a video on YouTube, describing her torment. An anonymous perpetrator convinced her to lift her shirt for the webcam as he chatted with her. The perpetrator obtained a picture of her without a shirt on and threatened to expose the photo to her peers. Although she transferred to other schools several times, the perpetrator had contacted the students in her new schools and forwarded the image. 22 In the case of 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons, a photo of her severely intoxicated and being sexually violated by a male who gestured a thumbs-up to the camera was the main source of her torment and subsequent suicide. The image was sent to her peers, which led to derogatory comments online and in person. 22 These cases led to local legislative changes, including the Nova Scotia Cyber-Safety Act, which was enacted in May 2013. Since then, at least 9 provinces have new legislation or new laws that specifically address cyberbullying. 22 On December 12, 2014, the House Government Bill C-13 (aka, “Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act”) was passed by the Parliament of Canada—an amendment to the existing cyberbullying policy. 23 However, the Bill C-13 has been criticised for addressing cyberbullying in a cursory manner. Moreover, the bill is also problematic because the focus has been on increasing authorities to thoroughly investigate online activities, which has been argued as a violation of freedom of speech. 24

Preventing Cyberbullying through Informational Websites and Tip Sheets

Although scholars concur that cyberbullying prevention and intervention are necessary, there is no consensus on how to prevent or address cyberbullying. 25 However, one common strategy to prevent cyberbullying is to provide information for youth, parents, and school personnel on what constitutes cyberbullying and to avoid being a victim. 26 , 27 Youth, parents, and school administrators often learn about cyberbullying through websites (e.g., http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/index.html ; http://www.cyberbullying.ca/ ; http://www.prevnet.ca/ ) and tip sheets. 28 Ahlfors 29 examined characteristics of 17 cyberbullying prevention and intervention websites to determine how online resources are being made available. Results indicated that 14 of the 17 websites were designed to inform parents, with 7 addressing young children (ages 6-10 years), 8 addressing tweens (ages 11-12 years), and 11 addressing adolescents (ages 13-18 years). Nine of the websites also address school officials and 6 provide information for law enforcement. 29 None of the websites target health care providers, who often work with and treat cyberbullied children and adolescents. Interestingly, 6 websites were designed around a commercial product, and only 10 included citations to published research.

These websites appear to target parents the most, which assumes that parents are aware of cyberbullying. Scholars have argued that parents have a critical role in any effective strategy against cyberbullying, 25 as their involvement has been found to be related to a reduction in bullying and victimisation. 30 Interestingly, unlike 1 study in the United States, which found that adolescents often do not turn to their parents when experiencing cyberbullying, 31 a study in Canada found that cyberbullied adolescents are more likely to confide in their parents than in school officials. 32 Nevertheless, it is imperative that parents are prepared to respond to cyberbullying situations. Moreover, online resources must be available for youth who are looking to manage their online experiences without parental intervention. Also, parents, school staff, health care providers, and youth need to understand that online resources might be tied to the sale of a commercial product that is not grounded in research.

A number of tips for addressing cyberbullying for victims, parents, and/or educators have been proposed by several scholars. 33 – 35 Such tips range from “do not read messages by cyberbullies” (victims 28 ) and providing parents with education (parents 33 ) to clearly defining and requiring compliance with the Internet policy for students, providing extensive faculty training on cyberbullying, and adopting a whole-school prevention efforts. 27 , 34 Ortega-Ruiz et al. 36 further argued that effective programs require the following strategies: 1) proactive policies, procedures, and practices; 2) raising school staff’s and youths’ individual awareness and online social competence; 3) promoting protective school environment; and 4) school-family-community partnerships to promote cooperation between school staff, families, and local organisations.

Students’ and Educators’ Awareness, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Cyberbullying

Many schools hold school assemblies or use software programs to increase students’ knowledge about cyberbullying and its effects on the targets. Only a few studies have evaluated these approaches. In their pilot study in Taiwan, Lee and colleagues explored the effectiveness of WebQuest, experiential learning activities focus on students' knowledge and attitudes toward cyberbullying and involves completing 4 tasks in collaborative student groups. 37 Lee and colleagues 37 found that cyberbullying knowledge increased and intentions to cyberbullying decreased in the WebQuest condition compared to the control condition. Roberto and colleagues 38 examined the effectiveness of the Arizona Attorney General’s Social Networking Safety Promotion and Cyberbullying Prevention presentation, which was designed to change students’ perceptions and attitudes toward cyberbullying. This presentation was 45 minutes long and covered Internet safety and cyberbullying prevention. Also, prior to the presentation, the speaker gathered information from the Facebook accounts of students in the school and sent them friend requests. Results indicated that students in the experimental condition were more likely to engage in Internet safety precautions (e.g., keep accounts private, no personal information on sites, not friending people they do not know) than students in the control condition. However, both studies were limited in scope with short follow-up. Thus, much more research is needed to understand the long-term impact of these programs.

Other research has focused on understanding educators’ awareness and perceptions of cyberbullying. 33 , 39 Cassidy and colleagues 39 examined educators’ experiences with cyberbullying in Alberta schools, their knowledge of social networking sites, the priority they place on preventing cyberbullying, and approaches they take. The authors found that educators perceived cyberbullying as a cause for concern but were not familiar with how and where students engaged in cyberbullying. Educators also reported that no policies or programs have been specifically implemented in their schools. Another study, 40 which examined preservice teachers’ perceptions about cyberbullying in Canada, showed that although a majority of the teachers understood that cyberbullying can seriously affect children, most did not think it was a serious problem in their schools.

Role of Health Care Providers in Preventing Cyberbullying

In the past few years, primary care health care providers have been urged to take a more active role in preventing the long-term health consequences associated with youth bullying. 15 , 41 – 43 Research suggests that youth and parents are willing to disclose to their physician concerns with bullying if the physician handles the disclosure in a caring manner. 43 , 44 However, most youth would prefer disclosing their bullying experiences on an intake form prior to seeing the physician, and some would prefer that their parents are not present when they discuss their experiences. 43 Other scholars argue that health care providers need to ask youth directly about bullying involvement (being bullied by others and bullying others) at school and online, 42 including questions of duration, location, forms of cyberbullying, and how these cyberbullying experiences have affected the youth.

Efficacy of School-Based Cyberbullying Interventions

Research on cyberbullying prevention and intervention approaches is an emerging scholarship in many countries, including Canada. There have been 1 meta-analysis and 2 systematic reviews of cyberbullying programs, where the program specifically targeted cyberbullying and assessed cyberbullying as outcomes. In a systematic review, Mishna and colleagues 45 examined the impact of 3 programs on “cyberabuse” (2 in the United States, 1 in Canada). First, the US-developed I-SAFE curriculum 46 includes 5 lessons (60 minutes) on Internet safety, cybercommunity citizenship, cybersecurity, personal safety, intellectual property, and law enforcement online. Lessons were provided by teachers during class time, and almost all activities were offline and targeted students in grades 5 to 8. Second, the Canadian program, The Missing Program, an interactive computer game designed to teach youth about Internet safety, was reviewed. 47 When playing the game, youth assume the role of a police officer and have to solve a series of puzzles with the goal of finding a missing teenager who had been targeted by a predator. Youth learn that they cannot trust everyone online, and the program focuses on chat room conversations, emails with someone on the Internet, and personal webpage design. The third program reviewed by Mishna and colleagues 45 was called Help-Assert Yourself-Humor-Avoid-Self-Talk-Own It. 48 Research evidence found that the programs increased Internet safety knowledge but did not affect risky online behaviour. Thus, additional research needs to be conducted on how programs can affect youths’ behaviour.

Van Cleemput and colleagues 49 identified 15 programs in their systematic review and included 6 programs (8 articles) in their meta-analysis. Although the overall effects of cyberbullying reduction were modest (Hedges’s g = .13), they were significant, with some programs yielding greater reductions. These programs include a wide range of strategies, including social skills training, use of peer educators, and information for teachers, staff, and families. One of the most rigorously evaluated programs is Media Heroes (Medienhelden), a school-based, psychoeducational program in Germany that attempts to raise students’ awareness about risks associated with technology use, to increase empathy and social responsibility, and to teach strategies to defend oneself and others from cyberbullying. The program targets middle school and high school students and consists of ten 90-minute sessions delivered weekly (although there is a shorter 1-day version with reduced content, over four 90-minute sessions). Informed by the theory of planned behaviour, the program covers topics such as defining cyberbullying, a discussion of its negative impact, Internet safety tips, and opportunities to react appropriately using hypothetical scenarios. Two randomised controlled studies found that the program significantly reduced cyberbullying. 50 , 51 Van Cleemput and colleagues’ meta-analysis 49 indicated moderate reductions in cyberbullying perpetration (Hedges’s g = .19).

Help-Assert Yourself-Humor-Avoid-Self-Talk-Own It is a US curriculum (ages 10-12 years) with 5 lessons to reduce bullying through increasing social skills. 48 Results yielded moderate levels of reductions in cyberbullying victimisation (Hedges’s g = .32). 48

ConRed is a school-based program developed and evaluated in Spain. 36 Based on the theory of normative behaviour where attitudes and behaviour are influenced by perceptions of social norms, the program consists of 8 student lessons delivered over 14 weeks (ages 11-19 years), 2 sessions for teachers and 1 session for families. Three units cover the following topics using virtual scenarios: 1) Internet/social networks with a focus on privacy and control over accounts, 2) improving technical skills and prosocial online behaviour, and 3) Internet addiction and cyberbullying. Results indicated modest reductions in cyberbullying (Hedges’s g = .15, .06). 36 , 52 More recently, Del Rey and colleagues 53 reanalysed their data and found significant intervention effects on cyberbullying victimisation for cybervictims (Cohen’s d = .56) and cyberbullying perpetration for cyberbullies (Cohen’s d = .22).

Noncadiamointrappola is a program developed in Italy that focuses on peer educators to decrease cyberbullying (ages 14-19 years). 54 Four offline and 4 online peer educators are trained on bullying prevention concepts and then participate in a number of school-wide events (e.g., raising awareness, making a short film, meeting with school administrators, developing a guide on email and cell phone safety). Results indicated significant reductions in cyberbullying (Hedges’s g = .15, .06). 55

The KiVa program, developed in Finland, is a universal school-based program that addresses cyberbullying at school by working with teachers, parents, families, community leaders, and students. Teacher training, student lessons, and virtual learning environments are all critical components of this multicomponent program. 56 Teachers use a manual for classroom instruction, which is supplemented by an antibullying computer game for primary school children and an Internet forum for secondary school students. Results yielded moderate levels of reductions in cyberbullying victimisation (Hedges’s g = .23). 57

Surf-fair 58 is a German-based curriculum for 11- to 12-year-olds that can be delivered in one 90-minute session (definition of cyberbullying, diary exercise, coping strategies) or two 90-minute sessions (online safety, German laws on cyberbullying, and a film). Results yielded substantial reductions in cyberbullying victimisation (Hedges’s g = .49), but the program was less effective in reducing perpetration (Hedges’s g = .08).

Overall, this meta-analysis indicated that programs designed specifically for cyberbullying and those that target multiple forms of bullying showed promise in reducing this type of behaviour. From these studies, it appears critical to involve students, teachers, school staff, and families in the prevention of cyberbullying. Since this meta-analysis, there have been additional studies pointing to other promising school-based programs (Cyber Friendly School Program). 59 While much more research needs to be conducted on prevention programs, critical components appear to be Internet safety, responsible use of technology, parental monitoring, robust school policies around cyberbullying, and school-home partnerships.

Summary and Future Directions

Prevention programs are only now being developed and evaluated to address cyberbullying and cybersafety. Websites, tip sheets, and other online resources might be where parents are receiving information about how to best protect their children. However, it appears that these online resources are often promoted by organisations that are selling products and rarely grounded in research. There is a risk that this information could be harmful if not supported by scholarship. Parents, teachers, school administrators, and health care providers should be cautious when reviewing information on these sites and should focus on online resources that are provided by government agencies and advocacy groups that use research to guide their recommendations.

Also, with the exception of ConRed, 36 the other programs described here and reviewed in the meta-analysis by Van Cleemput and colleagues 49 were programs that targeted multiple forms of bullying. Thus, many efficacious bullying prevention and intervention programs or approaches could be extended to include contents on cyberbullying and measure these as outcomes. 60 , 61 For example, reductions in cyberbullying perpetration were noted in a recent randomised clinical trial of a middle school social-emotional learning program in 36 schools in the United States. 62 While cyberbullying was addressed in the curriculum, the majority of the program focused on promoting empathy, perspective taking, communication skills, problem solving, friendship skills, and so forth. Scholars who are evaluating antibullying programs should at the very least add cyberbullying outcome measures and include lessons on cybersafety and cyberbullying. However, schools need to be supported to implement these programs through stronger legislation that addresses cyberbullying, and health care providers need to be informed of the negative outcomes associated with cyberbullying and how to effectively work with cyberbullying victims.

Finally, much more guidance is needed for health care providers to prevent the long-term health consequences of youth bullying. While youth and parents are willing to disclose their experiences with bullying to their health care providers, their disclosures need to be taken seriously and handled in a caring manner. Health care providers need to include questions about bullying on intake forms to encourage these disclosures. Questions should include whether youth are bullying others or are being bullied by others, how long it has been happening, where it is happening (e.g., school, online, in sport), and how these experiences have affected the youth’s mental, physical, and social health. In relation to cyberbullying, health care providers should talk to parents about setting appropriate limits on screen time, monitoring their children’s use of the technology, talking to their children about Internet safety and privacy, and identifying why their children are not talking to them about their online experiences. In short, more research has to be conducted on the various ways in which schools, communities, and health care providers are addressing cyberbullying to determine how best to intervene.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Cyber Bullying Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on cyber bullying.

Cyber Bullying Essay: In today’s world which has been made smaller by technology, new age problems have been born. No doubt technology has a lot of benefits; however, it also comes with a negative side. It has given birth to cyberbullying. To put it simply, cyberbullying refers to the misuse of information technology with the intention to harass others.

Subsequently, cyberbullying comes in various forms. It doesn’t necessarily mean hacking someone’s profiles or posing to be someone else. It also includes posting negative comments about somebody or spreading rumors to defame someone. As everyone is caught up on the social network, it makes it very easy for anyone to misuse this access.

In other words, cyberbullying has become very common nowadays. It includes actions to manipulate, harass and defame any person. These hostile actions are seriously damaging and can affect anyone easily and gravely. They take place on social media, public forums, and other online information websites. A cyberbully is not necessarily a stranger; it may also be someone you know.

Cyber Bullying is Dangerous

Cyberbullying is a multi-faced issue. However, the intention of this activity is one and the same. To hurt people and bring them harm. Cyberbullying is not a light matter. It needs to be taken seriously as it does have a lot of dangerous effects on the victim.

Moreover, it disturbs the peace of mind of a person. Many people are known to experience depression after they are cyberbullied. In addition, they indulge in self-harm. All the derogatory comments made about them makes them feel inferior.

It also results in a lot of insecurities and complexes. The victim which suffers cyberbullying in the form of harassing starts having self-doubt. When someone points at your insecurities, they only tend to enhance. Similarly, the victims worry and lose their inner peace.

Other than that, cyberbullying also tarnishes the image of a person. It hampers their reputation with the false rumors spread about them. Everything on social media spreads like wildfire. Moreover, people often question the credibility. Thus,  one false rumor destroys people’s lives.

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How to Prevent Cyber Bullying?

Cyberbullying prevention is the need of the hour. It needs to be monitored and put an end to. There are various ways to tackle cyberbullying. We can implement them at individual levels as well as authoritative levels.

Firstly, always teach your children to never share personal information online. For instance, if you list your home address or phone number there, it will make you a potential target of cyberbullying easily.

Secondly, avoid posting explicit photos of yourself online. Also, never discuss personal matters on social media. In other words, keep the information limited within your group of friends and family. Most importantly, never ever share your internet password and account details with anyone. Keep all this information to yourself alone. Be alert and do not click on mysterious links, they may be scams. In addition, teach your kids about cyberbullying and make them aware of what’s wrong and right.

In conclusion, awareness is the key to prevent online harassment. We should make the children aware from an early age so they are always cautious. Moreover, parents must monitor their children’s online activities and limit their usage. Most importantly, cyberbullying must be reported instantly without delay. This can prevent further incidents from taking place.

FAQs on Cyber Bullying

Q.1 Why is Cyberbullying dangerous?

A.1 Cyberbullying affects the mental peace of a person. It takes a toll on their mental health. Moreover, it tarnishes the reputation of an individual.

Q.2 How to prevent cyberbullying?

A.2 We may prevent cyberbullying by limiting the information we share online. In addition, we must make children aware of the forms of cyberbullying and its consequences.

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Cyber Bullying: preventing and responding to cyberbullying Essay

“If you bully somebody face to face, and they get upset, you see them cry and be hurt. When it’s over the Internet, you can’t see the emotional reaction and go along thinking it’s no big deal.”

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Dr. Robin Kowalski

The advent of technology which has brought about the development of a whole new e-world aka, the Digital Age characterized by blogs, social networking sites and instant messaging, have significantly transformed the manner in which we communicate, yet threatened the very social fabric of our societies by posing unique challenges – cyber bullying being one of them. Cyber bullying is one of the fastest growing trends in the field of cyber crimes among teens, in recent times, and often leads to disastrous consequences for the victims ranging from long term psychological damage to physical and emotional distress and at times even death (Kowalski, Limber and Agatston, 2012).

The widespread reach and scope of cyber bullying among teens is apparent from various worldwide polls and surveys conducted over the years, which highlights the gravity of the issue. According to data made available by the Cyber bullying Research Center (Cyberbullying Research Center, 2011) approximately 20 of students reported experiences some sort of cyber bullying in their lifetimes, about 13.7 of them reported experiencing hurtful or insulting comments made against them; 12.9 of them reported being victims of rumors spread against them; which is incidentally one of the most common forms of cyber bullying. According to another customer research survey conducted in the U.S. in the year 2011, about 1 million children were reported to have been harassed, threatened or subjected to various forms of cyberbullying on social networking site such as Facebook during the period of one year (Consumer Reports, 2011).

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Source: Cyberbullying Research Center (2011)

Meaning & Definition:

According to Trolley and Hanel, (2009) Cyberbullying is defined as any activitiy involving “the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phones, and pager text messages, instant messaging, defamatory personal web sites, and online personal polling web sites to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others” (pp. 33).

It has also been defined to include the use of any form of internet media, or electronic device to cause intentional harm or injury to others. It includes but is not limited to, the acts of cyber stalking, impersonating, virtual threatening and / or hacking into others’ personal accounts such as email ids or social networking site accounts etc., with a sole intention of damaging the other person’s reputation and causing mental, emotional or social distress / harm.

Background:

Contemporary technology has revolutionized the social as well as cultural dimensions of human interaction, particularly with regard to the manner in which students especially teens, interact with each other. This has completely transformed the concept of bullying from its conventional approach of in-school to online bullying, more popularly known as cyber bullying. The adolescent aggression which was so far being witnessed in classrooms and playgrounds have now ventured into more private spheres via electronic communication (Hinduja and Patchin, 2008). The internet is fast becoming one of the most inevitable parts of our social lives, and in the process has redefined the meaning and scope of interpersonal communications. The digital citizens of today, who grew up with internet around them are more exposed to the ill effects of the same, than never before (Herring, 2008).

The fact that internet has penetrated almost all aspects of our lives, is quite apparent and undeniable. The overwhelming presence of such a powerful tool, and its easy access to teens have increased the vulnerability of the victims of bullying to unprecedented levels. Furthermore, the trend of social networking sites and instant messaging as a part of our everyday lives, has opened up novel ways of communication, at the same time exposing individuals to varied forms of cyber bullying across all platforms. In contemporary society, physical spaces are shrinking and the virtual space is expanding at a rapid rate, presenting newer avenues for the youth to hang out and socialize. The sheer amount of time spent by young people and adolescents on the internet, be it social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter or on blogs, virtual chat rooms or instant messaging, has provided them with an opportunity to form virtual identities, thus giving them immense power to dictate their terms and dominate others in the virtual spheres (Kowalski, Limber and Agatston, 2008 ).

Cyber bullying includes flaming, harassment, cyber stalking, as well as denigration. Flaming refers to an activity whereby the perpetrators of the crime engage in abusive behavior towards the victims, by way of passing on rude, abusive or derogatory messages about a person and share them in an online group such as social networking sites, group chat rooms or blogs (Li, 2007). The key characteristic of “flaming” is that it occurs in virtual public settings, where the messages posted by the perpetrators are visible and accessible to everyone else (Kowalski, Limber and Agatston, 2008). The term harassment refers to repeated exchange of abusive messages through electronic means (Li, 2007). Unlike ‘flaming’ harassment occurs in a private setting such as private email messages sent to the victims, or through one on one chat, although in some cases, it may occur in public settings as well. Cyber stalking refers to repeatedly stalking people online, keeping tabs on their online activities, in order to intimidate them (Kowalski, Limber, and Agatston, 2008). Denigration refers to posting of derogatory messages or hurtful comments against a person through an online medium (Willard 2004, in Liu, 2007).

The problem:

“What makes cyber bullying so dangerous … is that anyone can practice it without having to confront the victim. You don’t have to be strong or fast, simply equipped with a cell phone or computer and a willingness to terrorize”

King, (2006: 1)

Children have been historically exposed to some form of bullying including harassment, stalking and verbal and emotional abuse, in schools, playgrounds and other similar social settings. Aggressive behavior among teens and young children has always assumed the form of bullying, but these actions are now magnified to unprecedented proportions with the advent of technology. Bullying has now taken a whole new meaning, and has shifted from the closed setting of classroom environment to virtual bullying. The key problem with cyber bullying is the fact that the perpetrators of such crime are not visible or easily traceable. They are anonymous and have the power and ability to harm others discreetly, without the fear of getting caught or being punished. Such impunity has afforded them the boost to indulge in cyber bullying in an unabashed manner, with hardly any regret or remorse for their actions.

One of the most common victims of cyber bullying include young children and teens, who are known to spend more time online, and hence are highly vulnerable to such acts. Modern technology has offered a new and bigger platform for bullies to harass their victims, beyond the physical settings and carry out their threats in a virtual setting where their actions are hardly likely to be noticed and hence go unreported. The students today are highly tech savvy and this ability affords them an opportunity to use novel means to intimidate others (Patchin and Hinduja, 2006).

Finding effective solutions to the problem of cyber bullying is crucial to protect the children from potential harm. Cyber bullying is known to have disastrous consequences on the victims, who may suffer from serious physical or mental distress, loss of self-esteem due to constant verbal abuse and rumors spread against them, being mocked and ridiculed in a virtual public setting may seriously affect their self-confidence leading them to withdraw from social interactions driving them to take drastic measures.

The solution:

The problem of cyber bullying is one of the key issues faced by school authorities and parents of teens and young children, in modern times. It is hence of utmost significance to ensure that effective and viable solutions are implemented to avoid such acts and prevent disastrous consequences. Some such solutions which can be implemented are discussed below:

Spread awareness through informative programs

The schools must introduce programs which help in spreading awareness regarding the gravity of the issue. Such programs can be directed towards both – the students as well as the parents. The students must be taught to be morally responsible and made aware of the ill effects and consequences of cyber bullying on the victims as well as on those indulging in it. The parents on the other hand must be made aware about the types of issues that their children might be facing and the manner in which they can help out their children and protect them from such bullying in the virtual world. Implement internet safety rules in school as well as at home:

The virtual world is vast and has a huge outreach. It is hence of utmost significance that the students must be made aware of the potential damage that can be caused by careless attitudes of the students, and acts which seemingly appear to be innocent and harmless yet are likely to turn out to be fatal when circulated online. Today, children as young as 9 are active on the web, and comprise of the highly vulnerable segment of population which is prone to cyber bullying. They must be made aware of regarding the negative consequences of sharing private information online, and protect their privacy at all times while interacting with people online.

Use filtering and blockage software

There are various softwares available in the market that helps in preventing cyber bullying. These include: Puresight, Cyber bully and Net Nanny among many others. These softwares offer protection to children by monitoring their net usage, and forwarding alerts directly to their parents in case any unusual activity or case of cyber bullying is detected. These programs also offer the opportunity to permanently block trouble makers, and protect the victims from falling prey to deliberate acts of aggression online. The price comparison of the same are mentioned in the table below:

Children today are becoming more and more tech savvy and have an increasing presence online, than never before. Their understanding of the virtual world far exceeds that of their parents or teachers, thus giving them total power to dominate and unleash their aggression on an infinite cyber space. Such power often leads to irresponsible and risky behavior on the part of the young children and adolescents often leading to serious issues such as cyber bullying. Schools and parents must take active interest in the online activities of their students and children, and ensure their safety online by way of various means such as protective softwares and educational programs, to name a few.

References:

Herring, S.C. (2008) Questioning the Generational Divide: Technological Exoticism and Adult Constructions of Online Youth Identity. In: Buckingham, D. (ed.), Youth, Identity, And Digital Media. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp. 71 – 95.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2008). Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and responding to cyberbullying. California: Corwin Press.

King (2006) cited in Kowalski, R. M., Limber., S. P., and Agatston, P. W., (2012) Cyberbullying: Bullying in the digital age. John Wiley & Sons Publication, pp. 1 Kowalski, R.M, Limber, S.P. & Agatston, P.W. (2008) Cyber Bullying – Bullying in the Digital Age. Oxford: Blackwell

Li, Q. (2007). ‘Bullying in the new playground: Research into cyberbullying and cyber victimisation’ Australasian Journal of Educational Technology. 23(4) pp.435-454.

Patchin, W. & Hinduja, S. (2006). ‘Bullies Move Beyond the Schoolyard: A Preliminary Look at Cyberbullying’ Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 2006; 4 pp.148.

Trolley, B. C., Hanel, C., (2009). Cyber kids, cyber bullying, cyber balance. Corwin Press, pp. 33

Primary Sources:

Cyberbullying Research Center (2011). [Online] Available at: http://www.cyberbullying.us/research.php [Accessed: April 12, 2012]

Consumer Reports (2011). Online exposure [Online] Available at: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/june/electronics-computers/state-of-the-net/online-exposure/index.htm [Accessed: April 13, 2012]

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The Pros and Cons of Cyberbullying: A Persuasive Essay

Bullying has always been a problem in our society, but with the advent of technology and social media, a new form of bullying has emerged – cyberbullying. While some people argue that cyberbullying has its pros, such as providing an outlet for victims to speak up and exposing the bullies, the detrimental effects it can have on victims far outweigh any potential benefits.

One of the main cons of cyberbullying is the lack of privacy it allows. With the click of a button, personal information and private messages can be made public for the whole world to see. This invasion of privacy can be extremely damaging, leading to social isolation, depression, and even suicide in some cases.

Furthermore, cyberbullying has the potential to become a crime. Posting harmful and threatening messages online can be considered as harassment, causing emotional distress to the victim. It’s important to recognize that bullying, whether it happens in person or online, is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any form.

Moreover, cyberbullying can have long-lasting effects on a victim’s mental and emotional well-being. Unlike physical bullying, which can be more easily recognized and stopped, cyberbullying can happen anywhere and at any time. The constant harassment can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some cases.

The Positive and Negative Aspects of Cyberbullying: Why It’s Important to Take Action

The negative aspects of cyberbullying.

When we think of cyberbullying, we often associate it with negative experiences. The detrimental effects it can have on individuals are both emotional and psychological. Cyberbullying can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. It is important to acknowledge the profound impact cyberbullying can have on someone’s mental health.

Furthermore, cyberbullying violates an individual’s privacy and creates an unsafe online environment. The spreading of false information or spreading harmful material like explicit photos can have long-lasting consequences for the victim. It is essential to understand that cyberbullying is not just a matter of online posts, but can also have serious real-life repercussions.

The Positive Aspects of Addressing Cyberbullying

While the negative effects of cyberbullying are undeniable, it is important to also focus on the positive aspects of addressing this issue. By raising awareness about cyberbullying and implementing preventive strategies, we can create a safer online environment for everyone, especially young people.

One of the advantages of addressing cyberbullying is the opportunity to educate kids and teenagers about online safety. By teaching them about the risks and consequences of cyberbullying, we empower them to make responsible choices and take actions that promote positive online interactions.

Furthermore, taking action against cyberbullying sends a strong message that this behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. This can discourage potential bullies and encourage victims to speak up and seek help. By actively addressing cyberbullying, we can foster a culture of compassion, empathy, and respect both in the online world and in our communities.

Finally, addressing cyberbullying can have a long-term impact on society as a whole. By working towards eliminating cyberbullying, we create a safer and more inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds. It is our collective responsibility to strive for a world where everyone can express themselves freely without fear of being targeted or abused.

The Impact of Cyberbullying on Victims and Society

Victims of cyberbullying often experience psychological and emotional harm. The effects can be long-lasting, leading to depression, anxiety, and even suicide in extreme cases. This kind of online abuse can be relentless, as the victim may be constantly subjected to harmful messages, threats, and humiliation. The lack of physical boundaries in cyberspace makes it difficult to escape from the torment, leaving the victim in a state of constant fear and distress.

It is important to outline strategies that can help reduce the impact of cyberbullying on victims and society. Schools, parents, and communities need to work together to educate children and promote empathy and respect online. Enforcing stricter regulations and consequences for cyberbullies can also serve as a deterrent. Furthermore, raising awareness about the harmful effects of cyberbullying through informative campaigns can help change the attitudes and behaviors of individuals.

By addressing the impact of cyberbullying, we can strive towards creating a safer and more inclusive online environment. It is of utmost importance to recognize the seriousness of cyberbullying and take the necessary steps to protect individuals from its harmful effects.

The Causes of Cyberbullying and Why Kids Engage in It

1. Anonymity and Impersonal Nature: The online environment allows individuals to hide behind screens and profiles, providing them with a sense of anonymity and detachment from their actions. This anonymity often leads to a lack of accountability and empathy towards others, making cyberbullying more prevalent.

2. Power and Control: Cyberbullying allows perpetrators to exert power and control over their victims. They can manipulate, harass, and intimidate others without fear of immediate consequences, making them feel empowered and in control.

3. Desire for Attention: Some individuals engage in cyberbullying to gain attention and a sense of validation from their peers. They seek recognition and popularity, even if it means using negative and hurtful tactics.

4. Revenge or Retaliation: Cyberbullying can be a response to a perceived wrongdoing or offense. Individuals may engage in it as a form of revenge or retaliation against someone they believe has wronged them or to release their frustrations.

5. Bullying as a Learned Behavior: Children who witness or experience traditional bullying at school or at home may learn to engage in cyberbullying as a means of coping or asserting dominance. They may mimic the aggressive behavior they see or have experienced before.

6. Lack of Awareness and Empathy: Some individuals may not fully understand the impact and consequences of their actions online. They may lack awareness of the emotional and psychological toll cyberbullying can have on its victims, lacking the necessary empathy to deter them from engaging in this behavior.

7. Sociocultural Factors: Sociological factors, such as the influence of peers, family dynamics, and societal norms, can contribute to cyberbullying. These external influences shape an individual’s perceptions and behaviors, sometimes fostering a culture that tolerates or even promotes cyberbullying.

8. Mental Health Issues: While not all cyberbullies have underlying mental health conditions, some may exhibit signs of depression, anger, or low self-esteem. These individuals may project their own insecurities onto others, using cyberbullying as a way to cope with their own internal struggles.

In order to reduce the prevalence of cyberbullying, it is crucial to address these causes and implement preventive measures. Stricter policies and regulations, both at home and in educational institutions, can create a safer online environment for children and teenagers. Educational programs that emphasize empathy, healthy digital communication, and responsible online behavior can also help in combating cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that can have severe consequences on the lives of those affected. By understanding the root causes and taking action, we can work towards creating a society where cyberbullying is no longer a threat.

The Potential Benefits of Addressing Cyberbullying

Addressing cyberbullying can have numerous benefits, especially for children and teenagers who are most vulnerable to its negative consequences. Here are several potential advantages:

• Prevention: By addressing cyberbullying, parents/guardians and schools can take proactive measures to prevent the occurrence of cyberbullying incidents. This includes educating children about the dangers of cyberbullying, teaching them how to respond appropriately, and fostering a culture of respect and empathy online.
• Protection of victims: Cyberbullying can have severe emotional and psychological impacts on its victims. By addressing the issue, parents, educators, and authorities can provide necessary support and protection to those who have been targeted. Effective intervention strategies can help victims cope with the trauma and prevent further harm.
• Reduction in cyberbullying cases: When cyberbullying is effectively addressed, it sends a strong message that such behavior is not tolerated. This can discourage potential bullies and reduce the number of cyberbullying cases overall. By creating consequences for cyberbullying, it becomes less likely that others will engage in this harmful behavior.
• Positive impact on mental health: Cyberbullying has been linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues in victims. By addressing cyberbullying, we can help reduce the negative impact on mental health and promote a healthier online environment for children and teenagers.
• Improvement in academic performance: Cyberbullying can significantly affect a victim’s academic performance. By addressing cyberbullying and providing necessary support, victims can regain their focus and concentration, leading to improved academic outcomes.
• Safety in digital spaces: It is essential to create safe digital spaces for children and teenagers. Addressing cyberbullying ensures that online platforms are less hostile and more conducive to positive interactions. This encourages children to explore the internet safely and use it as a valuable learning tool.

The Challenges and Limitations of Combating Cyberbullying

Another limitation is the lack of consistent laws and policies regarding cyberbullying. While some countries have specific laws to address this issue, many don’t have comprehensive legislation in place. This lack of legal framework makes it challenging to prosecute cyberbullies and provide justice to the victims.

Cyberbullying is also highly prevalent among teenagers. Due to their frequent use of social media and technology, they are more susceptible to cyberbullying than any other age group. The effects of cyberbullying on teens can be severe, leading to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. However, many teens may not report cyberbullying out of fear or embarrassment, further highlighting the difficulty in combating this issue.

Moreover, the sociological factors that contribute to cyberbullying, such as peer pressure and the desire for social acceptance, make it challenging to eradicate this problem entirely. These underlying issues need to be addressed in order to create a safer online environment for everyone.

Another challenge is the lack of resources and support available to those affected by cyberbullying. Victims often feel isolated and helpless, as they may not know how to seek help or who to turn to. It is essential to provide tangible resources and support systems that empower victims and help them navigate through this difficult time.

Lastly, the fast-paced and ever-evolving nature of technology poses a significant challenge in combating cyberbullying. New platforms and apps emerge constantly, providing bullies with new avenues to target their victims. It is crucial to stay updated and adapt strategies to address these emerging challenges effectively.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is the act of using technology, such as social media or messaging platforms, to harass, intimidate, or harm others.

What are the pros of cyberbullying mentioned in the article?

The article does not mention any pros of cyberbullying. It focuses on the negative consequences and dangers of cyberbullying.

What are the cons of cyberbullying discussed in the essay?

The essay discusses several cons of cyberbullying, including psychological harm to the victims, potential for suicidal thoughts and actions, negative impact on academic performance, and the difficulty of identifying and stopping cyberbullying.

How can cyberbullying affect a person’s mental health?

Cyberbullying can have severe negative effects on a person’s mental health. It can lead to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and lowered self-esteem. The constant harassment and humiliation can cause long-term psychological damage.

What measures can be taken to prevent and stop cyberbullying?

Preventing and stopping cyberbullying requires a collective effort from parents, schools, and online platforms. It is important to educate individuals about the consequences of cyberbullying, encourage open communication, establish strict anti-cyberbullying policies, and provide support and resources for victims.

Cyberbullying is the act of using technology, such as smartphones, computers, or social media, to harass, intimidate, or harm others.

How serious is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying can have serious consequences for its victims, leading to psychological and emotional distress, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts. It is not something to be taken lightly.

By Alex Koliada, PhD

Alex Koliada, PhD, is a well-known doctor. He is famous for studying aging, genetics, and other medical conditions. He works at the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics. His scientific research has been published in the most reputable international magazines. Alex holds a BA in English and Comparative Literature from the University of Southern California , and a TEFL certification from The Boston Language Institute.

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Preventing Cyberbullying in the Age of Smart Phones

Smart Phones, the Internet, and Cyberbullying Prevention

In a world where smart phone use by children and teens is very common, the internet and social media are always at their fingertips. While smart phones offer children and teens many ways to learn, connect with others, and have fun, they also may put children at increased risk of being cyberbullied.

In addition to using smart phones to connect socially through texting and social media apps, some children also use smart phones to participate in gaming . Video games offer children ways to develop their cognitive, motor, and emotional skills while having fun. Some gaming platforms allow users to play with family members, friends, and people they have never met in person.  Playing with others online can help children improve their social skills but could also expose them to cyberbullying.

How Parents Can Help Prevent Cyberbullying

Parents play a protective role in guiding their children and teen’s digital lives. As a parent, you can monitor your child’s device use, check in with them about their online activities, and educate them about digital safety and etiquette . Teaching children and teens good digital citizenship skills can help prevent cyberbullying and keep them safe online. Good digital etiquette and safety tactics can change as children get older.

Parents are also the ones to establish rules for how their children use social media and the internet. You can create privacy controls, establish which apps are age-appropriate, and discuss what content to post, view or share, dependent on a child’s age. You may also teach your child how to deal with “haters” who post negative content online.

Read more about popular social media, apps, and sites used by children and teens.

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What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:

• spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos of someone on social media
• sending hurtful messages or threats via messaging platforms
• impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf. 

Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint – a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.  

If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, urgently speak to an adult you trust. Or visit  Child Helpline International  to find help in your country.

The top 10 questions on cyberbullying

1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?

All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you, especially online. Sometimes they’ll laugh it off with a “just kidding,” or “don’t take it so seriously.” 

But if you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you instead of with you, then the joke has gone too far. If it continues even after you’ve asked the person to stop and you are still feeling upset about it, then this could be bullying.

And when the bullying takes place online, it can result in unwanted attention from a wide range of people including strangers. Wherever it may happen, if you are not happy about it, you should not have to stand for it.

Call it what you will – if you feel bad and it doesn’t stop, then it’s worth getting help. Stopping cyberbullying is not just about calling out bullies, it’s also about recognizing that everyone deserves respect – online and in real life.

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2. What are the effects of cyberbullying?

When bullying happens online it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways:

• Mentally  — feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even angry 
• Emotionally  — feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love
• Physically  — tired (loss of sleep), or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches 

The feeling of being laughed at or harassed by others, can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead to people taking their own lives. 

Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome and people can regain their confidence and health.

3. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?

If you think you’re being bullied, the first step is to seek help from someone you trust such as your parents, a close family member or another trusted adult.

In your school you can reach out to a counsellor, the sports coach or your favourite teacher.

And if you are not comfortable talking to someone you know,  search for a helpline in your country  to talk to a professional counsellor.

If the bullying is happening on a social platform, consider blocking the bully and formally reporting their behaviour on the platform itself. Social media companies are obligated to keep their users safe.

It can be helpful to collect evidence – text messages and screen shots of social media posts – to show what’s been going on.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key. It can also help to show the bully that their behaviour is unacceptable.

If you are in immediate danger, then you should contact the police or emergency services in your country.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key.

Facebook/Instagram: 

If you’re being bullied online, we encourage you to talk to a parent, teacher or someone else you can trust -- you have a right to be safe. We also make it easy to report any bullying directly within Facebook or Instagram.

You can always send our team an anonymous report from a post, comment or story on Facebook or Instagram.

We have a team who reviews these reports 24/7 around the world in 50+ languages, and we’ll remove anything that’s abusive or bullying. These reports are always anonymous.

We have a  guide  on Facebook that can help lead you through the process of dealing with bullying -- or what to do if you see someone else being bullied. On Instagram, we also have a  Parent’s Guide  that provides recommendations for parents, guardians and trusted adults on how to navigate cyberbullying, and a  central hub  where you can learn about our safety tools.

If you think that you are being cyberbullied, the most important thing is to ensure you are safe. It’s essential to have someone to talk to about what you are going through. This may be a teacher, another trusted adult, or a parent. Talk to your parents and friends about what to do if you or a friend are being cyberbullied.

We encourage people to report accounts to us that may break our rules. You can do this through the support pages on our  Help Center  or through the in-Tweet reporting mechanism by clicking on the “Report a Tweet” option.

4. I’m experiencing cyberbullying, but I’m afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?

If you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult – someone you feel safe talking to – is one of the most important first steps you can take.

Talking to parents isn’t easy for everyone. But there are things you can do to help the conversation. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention. Explain how serious the problem is for you. Remember, they might not be as familiar with technology as you are, so you might need to help them to understand what’s happening.

They might not have instant answers for you, but they are likely to want to help and together you can find a solution. Two heads are always better than one! If you are still unsure about what to do, consider reaching out to  other trusted people . There are often more people who care about you and are willing to help than you might think!

5. How can I help my friends report a case of cyberbullying especially if they don’t want to do it?

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying. If you see this happening to someone you know, try to offer support.

It is important to listen to your friend. Why don’t they want to report being cyberbullied? How are they feeling? Let them know that they don’t have to formally report anything, but it’s crucial to talk to someone who might be able to help.

Remember, your friend may be feeling fragile. Be kind to them. Help them think through what they might say and to whom. Offer to go with them if they decide to report. Most importantly, remind them that you’re there for them and you want to help.

If your friend still does not want to report the incident, then support them in finding a trusted adult who can help them deal with the situation. Remember that in certain situations the consequences of cyberbullying can be life threatening.

Doing nothing can leave the person feeling that everyone is against them or that nobody cares. Your words can make a difference.

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying.

We know that it can be hard to report someone. But, it’s never OK to bully anyone.

Reporting content to Facebook or Instagram can help us better keep you safe on our platforms. Bullying and harassment are highly personal by nature, so in many instances, we need a person to report this behavior to us before we can identify or remove it.

Reporting a case of cyberbullying is always anonymous on Instagram and Facebook, and no one will ever know you let us know about this behavior.

You can report something you experience yourself, but it’s also just as easy to report for one of your friends using the tools available directly in the app. More information on how to report something is included in  Instagram’s Help Center  and on  Facebook’s Help Center .

You could also let your friend know about a tool on Instagram called  Restrict , where you can discreetly protect your account without having to block someone -- which can seem harsh for some people.

We enabled  bystander reporting  which means that you can make a report on behalf of another person. This can now be done for reports of private information and impersonation as well.

6. How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the Internet?

Being online has so many benefits. However, like many things in life, it comes with risks that you need to protect against.

If you experience cyberbullying, you may want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while to give yourself time to recover. But getting off the Internet is not a long-term solution. You did nothing wrong, so why should you be disadvantaged? It may even send the bullies the wrong signal — encouraging their unacceptable behaviour. 

We all want cyberbullying to stop, which is one of the reasons reporting cyberbullying is so important. But creating the Internet we want goes beyond calling out bullying. We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others. We need to be kind to one another online and in real life. It's up to all of us!

We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others.

Keeping Instagram and Facebook safe and positive places for self-expression is important to us -- people will only be comfortable sharing if they feel safe. But, we know that cyberbullying can get in the way and create negative experiences. That’s why at Instagram and Facebook, we’re committed to leading the fight against cyberbullying.

We’re doing this in two main ways. First, by using technology to prevent people from experiencing and seeing bullying. For example, people can  turn on a setting  that uses artificial intelligence technology to automatically filter and hide bullying comments intended to harass or upset people.

Second, we’re working to encourage positive behavior and interactions by giving people tools to customize their experience on Facebook and Instagram.  Restrict  is one tool designed to empower you to discreetly protect your account while still keeping an eye on a bully.

Since hundreds of millions of people share ideas on Twitter, it’s no surprise that we don’t all agree. That’s one of the benefits because we can all learn from respectful disagreements and discussions.

But sometimes, after you’ve listened to someone for a while, you may not want to hear them anymore. Their right to express themselves doesn’t mean you’re required to listen.

7. How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?

Think twice before posting or sharing anything online – it may stay online forever and could be used to harm you later. Don’t give out personal details such as your address, telephone number or the name of your school.

Learn about the privacy settings of your favourite social media apps. Here are some actions you can take on many of them: 

• You can decide who can see your profile, send you direct messages or comment on your posts by adjusting your account privacy settings. 
• You can report hurtful comments, messages and photos and request they be removed.
• Besides ‘unfriending’, you can completely block people to stop them from seeing your profile or contacting you.
• You can also choose to have comments by certain people to appear only to them without completely blocking them.
• You can delete posts on your profile or hide them from specific people. 

On most of your favourite social media, people aren't notified when you block, restrict or report them.

8. Is there a punishment for cyberbullying?

Most schools take bullying seriously and will take action against it. If you are being cyberbullied by other students, report it to your school.

People who are victims of any form of violence, including bullying and cyberbullying, have a right to justice and to have the offender held accountable.

Laws against bullying, particularly on cyberbullying, are relatively new and still do not exist everywhere. This is why many countries rely on other relevant laws, such as ones against harassment, to punish cyberbullies.

In countries that have specific laws on cyberbullying, online behaviour that deliberately causes serious emotional distress is seen as criminal activity. In some of these countries, victims of cyberbullying can seek protection, prohibit communication from a specified person and restrict the use of electronic devices used by that person for cyberbullying, temporarily or permanently.

However, it is important to remember that punishment is not always the most effective way to change the behaviour of bullies. It is often better to focus on repairing the harm and mending the relationship.

Facebook/Instagram:

On Facebook, we have a set of  Community Standards , and on Instagram, we have  Community Guidelines  that we ask our community to follow. If we find content that violates these policies, like in the case of bullying or harassment, we’ll remove it.

If you think content has been removed incorrectly, we also allow for appeals. On Instagram, you can appeal content or account removal through our  Help Center . On Facebook, you can also go through the same process on the  Help Center .

We strongly enforce our  rules  to ensure all people can participate in the public conversation freely and safely. These rules specifically cover a number of areas including topics such as:

• Child sexual exploitation
• Abuse/harassment
• Hateful conduct
• Suicide or self-harm
• Sensitive media, including graphic violence and adult content

As part of these rules, we take a  number of different enforcement actions  when content is in violation. When we take enforcement actions, we may do so either on a specific piece of content (e.g., an individual Tweet or Direct Message) or on an account.

You can find more on our enforcement actions  here .

9. Internet companies don’t seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?

Internet companies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of online bullying.

Many of them are introducing ways to address it and  better protect their users  with  new tools, guidance and ways to report  online abuse.

But it is true that even more is needed. Many young people experience cyberbullying every day. Some face extreme forms of online abuse. Some have taken their own lives as a result.

Technology companies have a responsibility to protect their users especially children and young people.

It is up to all of us to hold them accountable when they’re not living up to these responsibilities.

10. Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?

Each social platform offers different tools (see available ones below) that allow you to restrict who can comment on or view your posts or who can connect automatically as a friend, and to report cases of bullying. Many of them involve simple steps to block, mute or report cyberbullying. We encourage you to explore them.

Social media companies also provide educational tools and guidance for children, parents and teachers to learn about risks and ways to stay safe online.

Also, the first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you. Think about where cyberbullying happens in your community and ways you can help – by raising your voice, calling out bullies, reaching out to trusted adults or by creating awareness of the issue. Even a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, urgently speak to an adult you trust. Many countries have a special helpline you can call for free and talk to someone anonymously. Visit  Child Helpline International  to find help in your country.

The first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you.

We have a number of tools to help keep young people safe:

• You can opt to ignore all messages from a bully or use our  Restrict  tool to discreetly protect your account without that person being notified.
• You can  moderate comments  on your own posts.
• You can modify your settings so that only people you follow can send you a direct message.
• And on Instagram, we  send you a notification  you’re about to post something that might cross the line, encouraging you to reconsider.

For more tips on how to protect yourself and others from cyberbullying, check out our resources on  Facebook  or  Instagram .

If people on Twitter become annoying or negative we have tools that can help you, and the following list is linked to instructions on how to set these up. 

• Mute  - removing an account's Tweets from your timeline without unfollowing or blocking that account
• Block  - restricting specific accounts from contacting you, seeing your Tweets, and following you
• Report  - filing a report about abusive behaviour

Expert contributions from:  Sonia Livingstone, OBE, Professor Social Psychology, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics; Professor Amanda Third, Professorial Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University.

With special thanks to:  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

UNICEF contributions:  Mercy Agbai, Stephen Blight, Anjan Bose, Alix Cabral, Rocio Aznar Daban, Siobhan Devine, Emma Ferguson, Nicole Foster, Nelson Leoni, Supreet Mahanti, Clarice Da Silva e Paula, Michael Sidwell, Daniel Kardefelt Winther.  

Revealed: UK-funded French forces putting migrants’ lives at risk with small-boat tactics

Exclusive: newly obtained footage and leaked documents show how a ‘mass casualty event’ could arise from aggressive tactics employed by border forces

French police funded by the UK government have endangered the lives of vulnerable migrants by intercepting small boats in the Channel, using tactics that search and rescue experts say could cause a “mass casualty event”.

Shocking new evidence obtained by the Observer , Lighthouse Reports, Le Monde and Der Spiegel reveals for the first time that the French maritime police have tried physically to force small boats to turn around – manoeuvres known as “pullbacks” – in an attempt to prevent them reaching British shores.

Newly obtained footage, leaked documents and witness testimonies show that the French authorities have used aggressive tactics including circling a migrant boat, causing waves to flood the dinghy; ramming into a small boat while threatening passengers with a large tank of pepper spray; and puncturing boats when they are already at sea, forcing migrants to swim back to shore.

The French authorities have previously refused the UK’s requests for them to carry out interceptions at sea, stating that they contravened international maritime law. But evidence indicates there has been an escalation in the use of these tactics since last summer.

Rishi Sunak has pledged to “stop the boats” crossing the Channel and has promised hundreds of millions of pounds to France to pay for more surveillance and border guards to prevent people making the journey. Last Wednesday the government’s safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill suffered several defeats in the House of Lords, delaying the prime minister’s plan to see flights for Kigali take off until after Easter.

Ministers claim that the bill will act as a deterrent to all those crossing the Channel from northern France to the UK. In the first video obtained and verified for this investigation, a police boat in Dunkirk harbour circles close to a dinghy holding about 25 people, creating a wake that floods the boat.

The police vessel is seen advancing towards the dinghy at speed, before turning sharply to create waves, circling and coming back again. Migrants are seen wearing foam-packed lifejackets and attempting to bale water out using their shoes.

Sources confirmed that the police patrol vessel used to carry out the manoeuvre seen in the video was bought by the French authorities with funding provided by the UK government under the “Sandhurst treaty” , a bilateral border security deal signed at the royal military academy in 2018.

“This is a textbook pushback – exactly the same as we see in Greece,” said one search and rescue expert who was shown the footage. “That one manoeuvre alone could cause a mass casualty event. The water is deep enough to drown in. I’ve seen this in the central Mediterranean many times, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen anything like this happening in the Channel.”

Previous evidence has shown how the Greek coastguard has forced boats carrying migrants back into Turkish waters in the Aegean Sea, in some cases by manoeuvring around them at high speed to create waves.

Two senior UK Border Force sources confirmed that the tactic could lead to multiple deaths and injuries. “If the blades [of the French boat] make contact with the vessel, it will slash right through it,” said one operational Border Force official.

“The other thing is a collision. The weight and the force of that vessel could ride straight over the top of the rib. It would knock the passengers out, knock them unconscious and into the water. It could potentially lead to death. I can’t believe any mariner could condone that.”

Maritime experts added that they would be “very surprised” if Border Force and HM Coastguard were not aware of these tactics being used, with one adding: “One hundred per cent, someone high up will definitely be aware of this.”

In a second video, members of the French gendarmerie drive alongside a dinghy in a speedboat about 12 miles from the French coast, threatening to use a large tank of pepper spray against a boat carrying migrants. They then proceed to ram their vessel into the dinghy. “They don’t even know who’s on board – whether there’s someone asthmatic that you’re using pepper spray against, or pregnant women,” said a Border Force official. “That could really harm people.”

In evidence of a third attempted pullback, a complaint filed by a member of the French customs coastguard to the public prosecutor in Boulogne-sur-Mer alleges that on 11 August 2023 police officers ordered a National Society of Sea Rescues (SNSM) crew to puncture a small boat that had already set sail. In an email seen by this investigation, the complainant, Rémi Vandeplanque, states that the SNSM crew “obviously refused” to do this, adding that the risk of drowning if they had done so was “obvious and imminent”.

Testimony from several sources who boarded small boats bound for the UK supports the claims that French police have used such tactics. “There were four of them [French gendarmes] on the boat,” said one man, who was from India. “They went round the boat in a circle and then they stabbed the boat and left. We had to swim for about 10 minutes … We nearly died.” On 9 February 2024, the man lodged a complaint with the French human rights ombudsman. The incident is under investigation.

Sources within France’s interior ministry have described the UK government’s “enormous pressure on a daily basis” for the French maritime police to prevent small boat departures, with one French civil servant describing the pressure as “intense” and “nonstop”.

Another senior civil servant, who was in post until the end of 2020, added: “As far as the British were concerned, the boats had to be caught at sea. They sometimes insisted on it.”

In September last year, then immigration minister Robert Jenrick said in the House of Commons that “there is clearly more that we need the French to do for us”, pointing to a recent trip to Belgium, where he said the authorities had “been willing to intercept in the water small boats leaving its shores”. He added: “That has proven decisive. Small boats from Belgian waters are now extremely rare, so that is an approach that we encourage the French to follow.”

In August 2021, during a visit to the Greek island of Samos , then home secretary Priti Patel went out on patrol with the Greek coastguard, which is known for its use of aggressive pushbacks in the Aegean.

“She came back invigorated,” said a Home Office source with knowledge of the trip. “They were very aggressive, had a good success rate of detection and were swift in how they processed them [asylum seekers]. She liked their posturing of ‘protecting borders’ and working with the military, though there was recognition that a lot of this wouldn’t be lawful in the UK.”

Britain has allocated more than £700m to France to prevent irregular migration since 2014.

At a summit in March 2023, Sunak announced that Britain would give France £500m over three years to fund additional border guards and a new detention facility, as well as video surveillance cameras, drones and night-vision binoculars, among other equipment.

The package was, according to several sources at the French interior ministry, a turning point. “This has really put the relationship between the two countries on a contractual footing,” said one senior official.

Last month the UK signed a working agreement with the European border agency Frontex to bolster intelligence sharing and deploy UK Border Force officials to coordinate the Channel response.

When contacted by this investigation, the prefecture for the north of France confirmed that a police boat had circled a dinghy and that the aim of the intervention was to “dissuade passengers” from approaching the open sea, adding: “It’s the only time we’ve been able to intercept a small boat using this manoeuvre and it was a deterrent. All the migrants were recovered and the smugglers arrested.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “An unacceptable number of people are crossing the Channel and we will do whatever is necessary to end these perilous and fatal journeys. We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year.

“Not only have we introduced tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, but we continue to work closely with our French counterparts, who are working tirelessly to save lives and stop the boats.”

• Immigration and asylum
• The Observer
• Home Office
• Rishi Sunak

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