What is Cyber-Bullying?

Cyber-bullying is a psychologically destructive form of bullying in which an individual or group uses varying forms of technological communication to send cruel, vulgar, or threatening messages or images to another individual or group. The most common forms of media used to bully are email and instant messaging (IM).(1) However, cell phone text messages, blogs, listserves, chat rooms, and websites created specifically to defame an individual are also viable avenues for abuse.(2)

This form of bullying is becoming increasingly prevalent among adolescents and is of growing concern in and outside of North America.(3)

How is Cyber-Bullying different than “Regular” bullying?

• The use of information and communication technology to bully.

• The bully’s (or bullies’) ability to remain anonymous by hiding behind online names and email addresses.(5) This makes it very difficult to control or to punish the perpetrators, as often the bullied person does not even know who is involved.(6)

• The ability to remain anonymous allows students who typically would not bully in a school setting to get involved.(7)

• Technology makes it possible for bullies to spread their hateful messages quickly, by cutting and pasting messages and forwarding them amongst a large group.(8)

• Hundreds of students can get involved in the bullying of one student through the ease of technology.(9)

• A bullied person can not get away from the bullying.  Cyber-bullying can intrude on a person at his or her home via computers or cell phones.

• Cyber-bullying occurs outside of the normal realm of school or adult supervision, which makes it more difficult to monitor and control.(10)