(Good Will Community Foundation, 2019).

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is simply defined as bullying or hurting someone else using technology (Kids Helpline, 2019). Cyberbullying can occur in many ways such as spreading rumors/slandering others online, sharing embarrassing and unwanted images or videos, sending abusive messages and repeatedly sending harassing messages which is referred to as cyberstalking (Kids Helpline, 2019).

Cyberbullying unfortunately occurs frequently as the use of ICT to engage young people is greatly harnessed by teachers (Cross et al., 2016). It’s well known that technology provides numerous advantages and benefits by enhancing people’s knowledge and relationships, however it also comes with some challenges with cyberbullying being one of them. Cyberbullying and victimization has been classified as a mental health concern (Nixon, 2014). Research has identified a clear relationship between cybervictimization and depression among young people (Nixon, 2014).

It can also be argued that cyberbullying can have a more severe and longer-lasting effect than face-to-face bullying (Campbell, 2005, p. 3). This is because written word seems to have more of an effect than verbal abuse, as the victim can read the text over and may forget the verbal abuse over time. Online abuse may also be on view to a wider audience than face-to-face bullying, and the bully may be anonymous, leaving the victim not knowing who the bully is and when they may attack next (Campbell, 2005, p. 3). It can spread like wildfire through many shares and may also be difficult to confront and remove the abuse, leaving the victim feeling like it’s impossible to escape the abuse.

(51 Critical Cyber Bullying Statistics in 2019, 2019).

Educators may find it hard to tackle individual cases of cyberbullying as it can occur at any given time and outside of school bounds. However, that doesn’t mean schools and the community cannot exhaust the resources that they do have to do the best they can to tackle this issue. Schools can put policies in place to raise awareness of this issue amongst staff and students, have anti-bullying posters placed around the school and in classrooms and have regular meetings and assemblies addressing the issue. Teachers may also involve parents and ask for their input in what can be done and discuss any supervision measures that may need to take place to prevent bullies from bullying and victims from being victimized.

References

Broadband Search. 2019. 51 Critical Cyber Bullying Statistics 2019 [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/cyber-bullying-statistics

Campbell, M.A. (2005). Cyber bullying: An old problem in a new guise? Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 15(1): 68 – 76. Retrieved from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/1925/1/1925.pdf

Cross, D., Shaw, T., Hawden, K., Cardoso, P., Slee, P., Roberts, C., &Thomas, L. (2016). Longitudinal impact of the Cyber Friendly Schools program on adolescents’ cyberbullying behavior. Special Issue: School-Based Interventions Against Cyberbullying in Adolescence. 42(2), 166-180. https://doi-org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.1002/ab.21609

Good Will Community Foundation. 2019. Cyberbullying and Cyber harassment [Image]. Retrieved from https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetsafetyforkids/cyberbullying-and-cyberharassment/1/

Kids Helpline. (2019). Cyberbullying. Retrieved from https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/cyberbullying

Nixon, C.L. (2014). Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health. Adolescent health, Medicine and Therapeutics. 5, 143-158 http://dx.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.2147/AHMT.S36456