Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm others (Belsey, 2004).
Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumours sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles. There are different forms of cyberbullying. These forms include harassment, impersonation, outing, trickery, exclusion, cyberstalking, and cyber threats.
Victims of cyberbullying are bullied from the moment they wake up and check their phone or laptop to the time they go to bed and shut off their devices. Ruairi Quinn, TD, echoed this when he said ‘Things were bad enough when bullying was confined to the playground, but now it can follow you home in your pocket’.
Cyberbullying is different from traditional bullying due to the anonymity that the Internet can provide. People can post what they like, be who they want and all behind a screen. The negative aspect about cyberbullying is that it is often outside of the legal reach of schools and school boards since it often happens outside of the school (Belsey, 2004).
This can have a devastating effect for many students across the country and indeed the world. The result of a cyberbullying experience, long or short term could also result in anxiety, depression, and fear which can cause decreased school attendance, strained relationships with friends, extreme embarrassment, school relocation, drug use and has even led to suicide.
The following figures have emerged in a global survey of almost 5,000 teenagers across 11 countries, including Ireland:
- Almost half of Irish teens said they felt helpless when cyberbullying happened to them, with three in ten admitting to feeling completely alone.
- As many as 25%, one in four, of those who had been cyberbullied went so far as to experience suicidal thoughts as a result.
- Nine in ten Irish teens said they would find it easier to cope with cyberbullying if they received support from their friends on social media.
- However, four in ten admitted that they would find it hard to find the right words to support a friend who was being bullied online.
Minister Frances Fitzgerald said “Bullying can have an absolutely terrible and corrosive impact on our children and young people, on their confidence, their self-esteem, and their mental health. It’s abusive of young people and desperately damaging. We already have high suicide rates and it’s the most vulnerable that will be hurt,” she added. Fitzgerald also said that cyber-bullying posed a particular risk because parents “might be a bit slower to find out”.
However, cyberbullying doesn’t stop at children and teenagers. People in the workplace can also be victimised through the use of technology by colleagues, as well as all adults in their day to day lives.
It is shocking to think how cyberbullying can end an individual’s life or have such a lasting impact on them but this is the reality of it. So with a new wave of technology to be introduced in 2016 what can we do about cyberbullying and will it ever end?
With an estimated 3 billion individuals on the planet utilising the Internet it is crucial that research, communities, workplaces, parents, schools and colleges are all informed and equipped with the information necessary to combat the effects of cyberbullying.
In order to combat the problem, it is important to actively participate in people’s lives, especially those of young people, ask questions about what they are doing online and keep the lines of communication open. In a workplace, school or college it is always imperative to have guidelines or a policy on internet safety and correct use. It is all about the correct way to act online, encouraging ethical behaviour and using technology for the good and not for the drastic situation that has become cyberbullying.
TIPS ONLINE
- Think about what you write or photos you add.
- Ask yourself, could these words be picked up the wrong way or cause upset? Is this photo suitable for lots of people to see?
- If you post something online and ‘comments’ or ‘chat’ becomes cruel, remove your posts so you are not part of a negative situation.
- I always ask myself would I like this to be read about myself. It puts it into perspective and avoids any type of negativity online.
- Always be careful online and remember that words don’t just hurt but can kill.
Sources
The poll was conducted by YouGov on behalf of telecoms company, Vodafone for their #BeStrong initative.
Belsey, B. (2004). What is cyberbullying? Retrieved 5 November 2015
Willard, N .E. (2006). Educators guide to cyberbullying: Addressing the harm caused by online social cruelty. Retrieved 6 November 2015
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