What Is the Problem With Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying can cause a victim emotional stress.

Cyberbullying occurs when one or more people harass or threaten another child over the Internet or through other mobile technology. When adults are tormented, it is called cyberstalking or cyber harassment.

Significance

Nearly half of all teenagers in the U.S. report at least once incident with a cyberbully.

Effects

Cyberbullying proves more than just a nuisance; children and teens are known to have committed murder and suicide over cyber attacks. Enough cyberbullying may warrant misdemeanor harassment charges.

Features

A cyberbully usually pulls his antics more than once on a victim. Cyberbullying can be as simple as hurtful words on an Internet message board and all the way up to legitimate threats on someone's life.

Types

Cyberbullies can act directly, such as spamming a person's cellphone with messages to give them a large bill, or indirect means, such as stealing their password and distributing inappropriate messages to the victim's friends.

Prevention/Solution

Minors should never reveal any personal information in any manner online. Most software has a way to block communication with undesired users. Teens should also refrain from acting as a proxy for cyberbullying messages.

References

• What is Cyberbullying, Exactly?
• National Crime Prevention Council: Cyberbullying
• How Cyberbullying Works