Bullying in the Cyber-World

By: Lauren Butler

“In recent years a new form of aggression or bullying has emerged, labeled “cyberbullying”, in which the aggression occurs through modern technological devices, and specifically mobile phones or the internet” (Slonje & Smith, 2008, p. 1).

It’s no secret that there has been a major increase in the use of technology for communication, with a vast majority of young people being active online. Incidentally, this in turn has increased the amount of cyberbullying taking place among adolescents and teens. Text messaging, social media, email and chatting outlets are the most popular mediums for bullies to wreak havoc, but identity theft has also become a genuine concern. Cyberbullying gives bullying a new face, and according to an article found in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, there are features of cyberbullying that can distinguish it from what is thought of as traditional school yard bullying. “One is the difficulty of getting away from it” (Slonje & Smith, 2008, p. 2), as online communication can be relentless with a huge audience. Indeed, probably the most daunting element of cyberbullying, “is the invisibility of those doing the bullying: cyberbullying is not a face-to-face experience, and (like rumor-spreading) provides those doing the bullying with some degree of “invisibility” and at times anonymity” (Slonje & Smith, 2008, p. 2).

Consequences of cyberbullying are not as obvious and straight forward so repercussions can be delayed. Cyberbullying is fairly disguised and bystanders may not be aware of the situations, therefore it can make help a lot harder to obtain. In recent years there has been a major push to control and eliminate traditional bullying at schools with the implementation of zero tolerance policies, so cyberbullying has become the new out of sight method for bullies. Unfortunately victims of cyberbullying usually don’t tell anyone, and if they do it’s just their friends, leaving them susceptible to continued mistreatment. Also, with somewhat of a technology gap between parents and the younger generations, the adults are often clueless as to the methods, means, and language used by cyberbullies leaving them in the dark.

Cyberbullying can be a silent issue, but never the less it is real, and becoming more of concern as communication via technology continues to grow. Although a form of bullying, it is not the same as traditional bullying, and needs to be viewed and handled in a different manner. Technology is changing rapidly and is therefore continuing to provide more outlets for cyberbullies to prey. Parents need to ensure they are aware of their children’s’ online activity, and to try and create open communication climates with them. Communication is key, and if parents educate both themselves and their children on the issues of cyberbullying it can make a difference. If teens know they have an outlet to turn to, they are more likely to reveal their experiences and concerns. Advocacy and awareness are instrumental to ensuring that cyber predators lose their power!

Reference:

Slonje, R., & Smith, P.K. (2008). Cyberbullying: Another main type of bullying?. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 49(2), 147-154. doi:10.1111/j. 1467-9450.2007.00611.x