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CYBERBULLY

ING

What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullyingis bullying that

takes place using electronic


technology. Electronic technology
includes devices and equipment
such as cell phones, computers, and
tablets as well as communication
tools including social media sites,
text messages, chat, and websites.

Cyberbullyingorcyber
harassmentis a form ofbullyingor

harassmentthat is perpetrated using


electronic forms of contact.
With the increased use of communication
technology, cyberbullying has become
increasingly common, especially among
teenagers.Awareness has also risen, due in
part to high-profile cases like the
suicide of Tyler Clementi

A frequently used definition of


cyberbullying is "an aggressive,
intentional act or behavior that is carried
out by a group or an individual, using
electronic forms of contact, repeatedly
and over time against a victim who
cannot easily defend him or
herself."[4]There are many variations,
such as the
National Crime Prevention Council's more
specific definition: "the process of using

Cyberbullying is often similar to


traditional bullying, although there are
some distinctions. Victims of
cyberbullying may not know the
identity of their bully, or why the bully
is targeting them. The harassment can
have wider-reaching effects on the
victim than traditional bullying, as the
content used to harass the victim can
be spread and shared easily among
many people, and often remains

Harmful effects
Research had demonstrated a number of serious
consequences of cyberbullying victimization. For
example, victims have lower self-esteem,
increased suicidal ideation, and a variety of
emotional responses, retaliating, being scared,
frustrated, angry, and depressed.People have
reported that Cyberbullying can be more harmful
than traditional bullying because there is no
escaping it.One of the most damaging effects is
that a victim begins to avoid friends and activities,
often the very intention of the cyberbully.

Intimidation, emotional
damage, suicide
According to the Cyberbullying Research Center,
"there have been several highprofile cases
involving teenagers taking their own lives in part
because of being harassed and mistreated over the
Internet, a phenomenon we have termed
cyberbullicide suicide indirectly or directly
influenced by experiences with online aggression."
Cyberbullying is an intense form of psychological
abuse, whose victims are more than twice as likely
to suffer from mental disorders compared to
traditional bullying.

The reluctance youth have in telling an authority figure


about instances of cyberbullying has led to fatal
outcomes. At least three children between the ages of
12 and 13 have committed suicide due to depression
brought on by cyberbullying, according to reports by
USA Today and the Baltimore Examiner. These would
include thesuicide of Ryan Halliganand the
suicide of Megan Meier, the latter of which resulted in
United States v. Lori Drew.
More recently, teenage suicides tied to cyberbullying
have become more prevalent. The latest victim of
cyberbullying through the use of mobile applications
was Rebecca Ann Sedwick, who committed suicide after
being terrorized through mobile applications such as
Ask.fm,Kik MessengerandVoxer.

On youth and teenagers


The effects of cyberbullying vary. But,
research illustrates that cyber bullying
adversely affects youth to a higher
degree than adolescents and adults.
Youth are more likely to suffer since
they are still growing mentally and
physically. Jennifer N. Caudle, a
certified family physician, describes

Most of the time cyberbullying goes


unnoticed; the younger generation
hides their bullying from anyone that
can help to prevent the bullying from
occurring and from getting worse.
Between 20% and 40% of adolescents
are victims of cyberbullying worldwide.
The youth slowly change their
behaviors and actions so they become
more withdrawn and quiet than they

According to A Study on Primary School


Students Being Cyber Bullies and Victims
According to Gender, Grade, and
Socioeconomic Status, cyberbullying victims
"have psychological problems, such as lack of
self-confidence, distress, disappointment, fear
of school, lack of academic achievement,
loneliness, anxiety, depression, and suicide.
Cyberbullying will "become a serious problem
in the future with an increase in the Internet
and mobile phone usage among young
people".

If preventive actions are not taken against


cyberbullying, younger children in addition
to teenagers will feel more lonely and
depressed along with having a significant
change in their eating and sleeping
patterns as well as loss of interest in their
normal activities. These changes will affect
their growth and development into
adulthood.Younger children and teenagers
are 76.2% less likely to display suicidal
behaviors and thoughts, but are still at risk
depending on other factors such as mental

Effects of Cyberbullying
Cell phones and computers themselves are
not to blame for cyberbullying. Social media
sites can be used for positive activities, like
connecting kids with friends and family,
helping students with school, and for
entertainment. But these tools can also be
used to hurt other people. Whether done in
person or through technology, the effects of
bullying are similar.

Kids who are cyberbullied


are more likely to:
Use alcohol and drugs
Skip school
Experience in-person bullying
Be unwilling to attend school
Receive poor grades
Have lower self-esteem
Have more health problems

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