Cyberbullying: Physically Harmful To Victims

To start with, Cyberbullying can lead to physical and mental harm. When someone cyberbullies another person it can lead to sadness, frustration, and anger in their own home. If someone couldn’t take these overwhelming feelings any longer, they might consiter harming them self as their only option. As psychologist Eden Foster states “Cyberbullying can also lead to kids getting physically injured.” This is a scary situation

Cyberbullying is when psychological harm is done through the use of electronics such as computers, cell phones, e-mail, social networking, and instant messaging (Clancy 579-582; Hanel, Trolley 33). However, in addition to the verbal behaviors, cyberbullying can happen when someone posts pictures or videos without the consent of the other person, creates hate websites of the victim, makes web pages posing as the victim, and such (Hinduja, Patchin, “Traditional and Nontraditional” 728; Willard 1). Cyberbullying is done two ways: direct and indirect. Direct cyberbullying is when such material is sent directly from the bully to the victim. Indirect cyberbullying is when the bullying is done through another person, another person’s screen name or cell phone, anonymously, or by hacking

“...1 in 3 teens [have] admitted to being a victim of cyberbullying…” says child psychologist, Eden Foster, in reference to a survey, talked about in “The Dangers of Cyberbullying” by Brett Warke, that shows the absolute significance of cyberbullying in this day and age. Cyberbullying on social media is everywhere and it’s about time that someone took some action against it, and, in this case, taking legal action via prosecution may be the best way to go. Let it not be said that cyberbullying and bullying are different, infact, the only difference is the platform they take place on. Cyberbullying is done with the same malicious intent as face-to-face bullying is done with: the intent to hurt a victim in a psychological or physical way- showing

dealing with cyberbullying and the internet; therefore, it must rely on Case Law from before the

1. Adams, Caralee. “CYBERBULLYING.” Instructor, Vol. 120 Issue 2, p2. MasterFILE Premier. Web. Fall2010. 15 Nov. 2010

Cyberbullying is a relatively new threat, and it is very similar to traditional bullying. Despite the fact that cyberbullying and traditional bullying both share the common goal of harassment, cyberbullying differs from traditional bullying in that it does not stop at the schoolyard, and can continue when the victim is far away from the aggressor. It is just as devastating as common bullying, and sometimes is even more damaging. Professors Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin note in their journal, “Cyberbullying Creates Dangerous Stress and Anxiety”, that cyberbullying affects anywhere between 10-40% of students (contingent on their age group) (par. 1). J.D. Kelly A. Albin, in her article “Bullies in a Wired World”, defines cyberbullying as “…the ‘willful and repeated harm inflicted through use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices’” (157). It is caused by the fact that children feel their actions are mitigated when they use social media, as it creates the illusion of indirectness, and its effects range anywhere from mild depression to suicide.

This problem has become more pressing and has been a greater focus in the media. Social media has also brought the issue to the forefront in the last several years and, itself, plays a role in today’s age of bullying, cyber bullying. The Matt Epling Safe School Law (2011/2014) was amended in 2014 to add a section specifically directed at cyberbullying. The legislation identifies bullying as anything that is composed, spoken, acted out, or conveyed electronically. These acts are said to disrupt educational opportunity, impart emotional disturbances, influence physical and mental health, and/or impact the daily functioning of the educational institution (Matt Epling Safe School Law, 2011/2014). These definitions demonstrate the severity of the social problem,

Cyberbullying is the abuse of an electronic source to degrade and devalue others. It is cruel and immoral but unfortunately unavoidable in today’s age.

In this wonderful and at times, overwhelming age of technology, in which any person can send and receive information instantaneously and anonymously, cyber-bullying is rapidly emerging as one of the top problems facing today's youth. Cyber bullying is described by the National Conference of State Legislators as being "the willful and repeated use of cell phones, computers, and other electronic computer devices to harass and threaten others." Recent, highly publicized cases of cyber-bullying such as the stories of Tyler Clemente and Audrie Pott are only the tip of the iceberg in what is rapidly becoming an epidemic of cyber-bullying in America. At this moment, forty nine of fifty states have some type of anti-bullying laws in place, with eighteen

Cyberbullying is an everyday situation for teenagers around the world. Many teenagers suffer from bullies that are treating them badly and differently than other people. Individuals should be prosecuted for statements made on social media because of the impact that it has on the victim. The cyberbully should be prosecuted because of how the victim reacts to the situation, how the bully harrasses them, and how it spreads around the internet.

Internet usage in children and adolescents has been increasing in a steadily fashion in the past number of years and with the increase in internet usage, a new form of bullying has developed – Cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can be defined as “the electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person,” (Merriam-Webster, 2012). This form of bullying can come through various mediums including but not limited to text messages, emails, videos, and social networking sites. There is an overwhelming amount of information that defines cyber bullying, identifies the demographics of bullies and victims of cyber bullying, and identifies the outcomes of cyber bullying on victims. More focus needs to be placed on who the perpetrators

In both of the essays featured, they both confront the major issue of bullying and the controversial opinions of stopping it. In the first article, “Should Cyberbullying Be a Crime,” the author focuses around the two major opinions surrounding punishment towards bullying -- making it a legislative issue or a local one. The second text, “Cyberbullying: 11-Year-Old Falls Victim to Offline and Online Bullying in Virginia” has a more statistical standpoint, drawing up the percentages of students who feel that they have been, will be, or participated in bullying..

Many negative effects are outcomes of cyber bullies. The impact cyber bullying has on kids is detrimental. Victims can develop psychological problems. For example, victims begin having anxiety, lower self-esteem, and frustration. They may also be diagnosed with depression. It’s tough to ignore cyber bullying. Compared to school bullies, internet bullies cause their victim more emotional pain. Children and teenagers are able to escape school bullies when they return home. However targets of cyber bullying don’t have that advantage.

Cyberbullying is most horrific form of bullying by far. This is because it is used online, and there isn’t much that can be done to stop this. In the past students could be disciplined at least some of their attacks. (Cloud) Most school are reluctant to show any authority over this since they aren’t sure they have that right. (Hoffman) Some schools actually explicitly prohibit off-campus cyberbullying and some imply it. (Hoffman) More should be done to give schools the power needed to keep these things from

Cyber bullying laws are being created to make this destructive activity illegal. Threats are not protected speech. Thus, cyber bullying isn’t protected by the first amendment as freedom of speech. Cyber bullying deprives people of their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. According to research in as of June 2011, thirty states have passed bullying laws where cyber bullying was included. Studies show that cyber bullying has influenced 50% of US teenagers. Schools and organizations are required to create a bullying policy including cyber bullying, as long as it is reported. Clear repercussions must be outlined. Schools require direction from the state legislatures and education departments to draft policies that will hold up in court.