Several characteristics distinguish
cyberbullying from other forms of bullying, such as:
•Students who are victimized have no
place to hide, and can be targeted anytime and anyplace.
•Cyberbullying can involve a very
wide audience (e.g., through the circulation of video clips on the internet),
although the bully may not be aware of the audience’s reactions.
•Students who cyberbully others are
relatively protected by the anonymity of electronic forms of contact, which can
safeguard them from punishment or retaliation.
•As with some indirect traditional
bullying, students who cyberbully do not usually see the response of the
victim, changing the satisfactions or inhibitions normally generated by
bullying.
Forms of Cyberbullying
Much research has focused on one or
two forms of mobile or internet bullying. There are seven forms of
cyberbullying: mobile phone calls, text messages, picture/video clips, email,
instant messaging, chat-rooms and websites. Of these, phone calls, texts and
instant messages were the most commonly reported.
Impact of Cyberbullying
Victims of cyberbullying most
commonly report feelings of frustration, anger and sadness also report that victims feeling worried,
threatened and distressed. Although most forms of cyberbullying were rated as
having a similar impact, picture video clips were perceived to cause much
greater harm than traditional bullying.
Coping Strategies
A common theme in research on
bullying has illustrated how victimized children often show a reluctance to
seek help. Cyberbullying appears to show a similar trend. Currently, it is not
yet clear whether the recommended strategies are actually effective in either
ending cyber bullying or effectively coping with its impact.
What Can Parents and Educators Do
About Cyberbullying?
Anti-bullying interventions,
classroom materials and school policies need to address cyberbullying by making
staff and pupils aware of the problem, and provide help for those who
experience it. Parents and staff may be unaware of the full range of technologies
used by their children. Efforts are needed to enhance their knowledge, of the
dangers as well as benefits associated with such technologies. Such awareness
and guidance should include information on relevant legal issues and on ways of
contacting mobile phone companies and internet service providers. New
technologies are already being used in some schools to report both bullying and
cyber-bullying behaviour. In this way, the anonymity that is afforded to the
bully can be used more constructively to provide both help and support for
victims of cyberbullying. In addition, advisory and support materials need to
be circulated widely among schools and communities, as cyberbullying can take
place anywhere and anytime.
