What is cyberbullying?

Tweet Parents, NMC wants to make you aware of another internet safety issue. Cyberbullying or online social cruelty or electronic bullying is a growing problem where individuals are harassed, embarrassed or threatened online or via text message. This problem is prevalent among teens but adults may find themselves victim of this type of bullying as well.

Below is some information from the National Crime Prevention Council describing the various forms of cyberbullying that teens may encounter and how it can be prevented:

How Are Teens Cyberbullied?

Being a victim of cyberbullying can be a common and painful experience. Some youth who cyberbully

* Pretend they are other people online to trick others
* Spread lies and rumors about victims
* Trick people into revealing personal information
* Send or forward mean text messages
* Post pictures of victims without their consent

When teens were asked why they think others cyberbully, 81 percent said that cyberbullies think it’s funny. Other teens believe that youth who cyberbully

* Don’t think it’s a big deal
* Don’t think about the consequences
* Are encouraged by friends
* Think everybody cyberbullies
* Think they won’t get caught

How Do Victims React?

Contrary to what cyberbullies may believe, cyberbullying is a big deal, and can cause a variety of reactions in teens. Some teens have reacted in positive ways to try to prevent cyberbullying by

* Blocking communication with the cyberbully
* Deleting messages without reading them
* Talking to a friend about the bullying
* Reporting the problem to an Internet service provider or website moderator

Many youth experience a variety of emotions when they are cyberbullied. Youth who are cyberbullied report feeling angry, hurt, embarrassed, or scared. These emotions can cause victims to react in ways such as

* Seeking revenge on the bully
* Avoiding friends and activities
* Cyberbullying back

Some teens feel threatened because they may not know who is cyberbullying them. Although cyberbullies may think they are anonymous, they can be found. If you are cyberbullied or harassed and need help, save all communication with the cyberbully and talk to a parent, teacher, law enforcement officer, or other adult you trust.

How Can I Prevent Cyberbullying?

Teens have figured out ways to prevent cyberbullying. Follow in the footsteps of other quick-thinking teens and

* Refuse to pass along cyberbullying messages
* Tell friends to stop cyberbullying
* Block communication with cyberbullies
* Report cyberbullying to a trusted adult

You can also help prevent cyberbullying by

* Speaking with other students, as well as teachers and school
administrators, to develop rules against cyberbullying
* Raising awareness of the cyberbullying problem in your community
by holding an assembly and creating fliers to give to younger
kids or parents
* Sharing NCPC’s anti-cyberbullying message with friends

Don’t forget that even though you can’t see a cyberbully or the bully’s victim, cyberbullying causes real problems. If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online. Delete cyberbullying. Don’t write it. Don’t forward it.

The Health Resources and Services Administration gives data from a Cox Communications 2009 Teen Online & Wireless Safety Survey where 13-18 year-olds were asked how often they had ever been involved in cyberbullying, the results are surprising:

* 15% said they had been cyberbullied online
* 10% had been cyberbullied by cell phone
* 7% said they had cyberbullied another person online
* 5% had cyberbullied another person by cell phone

In this video, Aaron Kenny of InternetSafety.com is interviewed about cyberbullying and suggests that limiting the amount of time teens spend online could help in preventing this type of behavior. He also recommends that victims of online cyberbullying should contact the administrator of the website where any negative information is posted to ask that it be flagged and reviewed to determine if it should be taken down.