Imagine being sent the following messages over social media:
“You are ugly!”
“Go kill yourself!”
“Why are you still alive?”
These are the messages a 12-year old girl from Florida repeatedly got for a year before she killed herself a month before her 13th birthday. That’s one result of cyberbullying. The attorneys of the perpetrators argued a case for their civil liberties in court, as they were surrounded by their parents. That’s the act of trying to get away with it.
The rise in the usage of the internet and other electronic media has simultaneously given rise to antisocial behavior and other harmful behaviors (Zhu et al., 2021). A dark side of digital technology is its use to bully or victimize people in the virtual environment, sometimes even crossing geographical boundaries (Zhu et al., 2021). This type of bullying or victimization is called cyberbullying (Vallor, 2021; Zhu et al., 2021).
Cyberbullying pre-dates web 2.0 standards. It includes such behaviors as cyberstalking, online dating victimization, verbal put-downs, exclusion, mocking, harassment, threats, leaking the personal information of others online, posting private photos of others without permission with the purpose of outing them, impersonating and social media account forgery (Kaspersky, 2016; Zhu et al., 2021). Several issues arise from offensive actions like cyberbullying: the questions of how social networking services should respond for investigative purposes and the increasingly political nature of cyberbullying itself in terms of who reports, who gets targeted, and what type of justice is received (Vallor, 2021).
Cyberbullying is not contained within any one particular country; it is a global problem, and a solution would require global collaboration (Zhu et al., 2021). Cyberbullying is a public health issue. It has adverse effects such as disruption in learning, school absenteeism, poor mental health, reduced safety, privacy invasion. Research has shown that compared to people bullied in-person, those bullied online show heightened levels of depression, loneliness, anxiety, low self-esteem, eating disorders, sleep deprivation, and suicidal thoughts, plans, and action (Zhu et al., 2021). The effects of cyberbullying may be worse than bullying in the “traditional” sense because there is easy access at any time. There is also the issue of the perpetrators’ anonymity the internet or social media allows. Cowardly people can create fake accounts under aliases and bully others online without getting caught or traced (Kaspersky, 2016). Even though most aspects of our online presence are tracked, as Kelly (2016) had pointed out, there does not seem to be a way to track those exhibiting bully tendencies before they do a lot of damage. Even UNICEF has recently stated that children might not be able to expect absolute safety in the digital world (Zhu et al., 2021).
Extant research has highlighted several risk factors associated with cyberbullying (Zhu et al., 2021). These risk factors can be divided into personal and situational factors regarding victimization and perpetration (Zhu et al., 2021). Some of the personal factors are gender, frequent use of social media platforms, depression, eating disorders, online behavior, health conditions, suicidal tendencies, and past experiences of victimization or bullying (Zhu et al., 2021). These risk factors were found to be related to susceptibility to cyberbullying. Other personal factors, such as impulse, improperly controlled family education, poor teacher-student relationship, technology use, maladaptive behavior, low emotional intelligence, poor communication skills, and past experiences of victimization or bullying (Zhu et al., 2021), were considered to be risk factors for cyberbullying perpetration. In terms of situational factors, research has shown that people who bully others online are more likely to be from dysfunctional families, have inadequate online parental monitoring and involvement, perceived anonymity, strained parent-child relationship, provocation, and a toxic school or work climate (Zhu et al., 2021) and most likely, experience some parental abuse or neglect (Zhu et al., 2021). For those who experience cyberbullying, the situational risk factors include, in some cases, parental abuse and neglect, improper monitoring, communication barriers between parents and children, as well as the urban environment (Zhu et al., 2021). In terms of personal factors, research has shown that females were more likely to be bullied than males (Ho, 2019). Those with mental health problems, social difficulties, and those who spent more time online were also more likely to be cyberbullied, as noted by Zhu et al. (2021). There is evidence that people who have experienced face-to-face bullying or aggressive communication are likely to become cyberbullies themselves (Zhu et al., 2021). There is inconsistent data regarding the concentration of race or gender in terms of being a perpetrator or being victimized, as noted by Zhu et al. (2021). Research is ongoing in this area, as Zhu et al. (2021) suggested.
To protect children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults online, Zhu et al. (2021) suggested the following protective joint efforts between individuals, parents, schools, and communities to form a cyberbullying-free environment. For individuals, there should be a movement towards improving emotional response to messages or information on social media platforms, choosing a dialogue partner to share the feelings that come up when using social media, and improving relationships with parents to ensure there are trusted adults to report to when such incidences arise.
Teachers, counselors, and parents should arm themselves with sufficient knowledge of emotional management, develop emotional management capabilities and skills, which will, in turn, increase the emotional intelligence of those who would otherwise become perpetrators of cyberbullying (Zhu et al., 2021). Parents, teachers, and all who stand by as witnesses should arm themselves with the knowledge to become more aware of aggressive or angry emotions expressed by people, so they can intervene. Parents could also check their particular parenting style, so their children feel supported and heard….the learning process of parenthood is lifelong, and there is no shame in asking for professional help to mitigate some problems. Open communication is key to a sense of security, so those victimized do not feel as if they are in it alone. Although the decision might be unpopular, maybe setting some limits on social media usage and creating intentional breaks from social media and phones for children and teenagers might give some distance between them and those who have access to them online.
In terms of schools, a regular social audit to check for a safe and positive environment should be done to ensure problems are highlighted as soon as possible for academic performance and personal well-being to be maintained.
In terms of the community, loudly condemn the act of cyberbullying or any other type of victimization via the internet. Speak out about it whenever the opportunity arises—that is what courageous leaders do.
So, I ask you this —– Have you ever experienced cyberbullying in any form as described in this post and just brushed it off and never told anyone? What impact did it have?
Would you know if someone you love was being cyberbullied? Have you, without being conscious of it, bullied another online by threatening, excluding, outing, mocking, or speaking an “untruth?”
References
Ho, S. (2019, July 26). Girls 3 times more likely to report being harassed online or by text message amid rise in US cyberbullying. The Ledger. https://www.theledger.com/news/20190726/girls-3-times-more-likely-to-report-being-harassed-online-or-by-text-message-amid-rise-in-us-cyberbullying
Kaspersky (2016, June 1). Cyberbullying facts: Top 10 forms of cyberbullying [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/0Xo8N9qlJtk
Kelly, K. (2016). The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 technological forces that will shape our future. Viking Press.
TEDx Talks. (2016, January 27). Trisha Prabhu: Hacking the adolescent brain to stop cyberbullying [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/fNPyu8GO6RI
Vallor, S. (2021). Social Networking and Ethics. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2021/entries/ethics-social-networking/
Zhu, C., Huang, S., Evans, R., & Zhang, W. (2021). Cyberbullying among adolescents and children: A comprehensive review of the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.634909
Leadership Dialogue in Changing Times 
Some important suggestions in your post, Vivian! One of the more unique solutions was discussed in this podcast – https://www.coolcatteacher.com/sit-app-kids-fighting-bullying-one-lunch-table-time/ – an app developed by a teen so that no one sat alone at lunch.
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Thank you Dr. Watwood,
I really enjoyed the podcast link you shared here. What a great idea! I am constantly amazed by young innovators and their sense of social responsibility. The app, Sit With Us, created by Natalie Hampton, while wonderful in ensuring that students do not feel isolated, does not really protect them from those who follow them around in the palm of their hand via cell phone, or in the bookbag via laptop, or at home as they go through their social media accounts. Even though they feel safer and better when people have lunch with them, and they feel less unwanted, since it is an open invitation to the lunch table, even perpetrators can join the table looking for people to go online and victimize.
However, I applaud the efforts of this young innovator. She turned her experience into a way to make life better for others. She is truly a woman for and with others, as our Jesuit charism would highlight.
In terms of technology that could mitigate cyberbullying and other online harmful behaviors, Martin (2019) described another technology that is now been utilized in the quest to make children and teenagers safer. It is called Bark. Bark was developed to allow parents and schools to monitor social media, emails, and text messaging with consent of the student. It uses artificial intelligence to detect suicidal messages, cyberbullying language, sexting, and potential acts of violence. It then alerts the parents and the teachers. It seems to be a kid-friendly solution which could prompt an intervention before it’s too late, especially when the child does not speak up. For more information, here is their site: https://www.bark.us/
Thank you for the dialogue.
Vivian
References
Martin, N. (2019, April 26). Machine learning App helping to prevent cyberbullying and school shootings. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolemartin1/2019/04/26/machine-learning-app-helping-to-prevent-cyberbullying-and-school-shootings/?sh=5cf310802146
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I like the thought process behind Bark. I would worry that biases might be unintentionally coded in to the AI behind the app.
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Indeed! Bias is a problem. This is why Amazon stopped using AI algorithms for hiring purposes (Manyika et al., 2019).
There has been the suggestion of using the technique of “counterfactual fairness.” This technique would involve ensuring that a model’s decisions are the same in a counterfactual world where attributes considered sensitive, such as race, gender, or sexual orientation, were changed, as Manyika et al. (2019) explained.
It might also take an interdisciplinary perspectives, from ethicists, social scientists, and other humanities thinkers, to determine how AI could learn the concept of “fairness,” even though we are presented with varying definitions of fairness these days.
I would imagine that in order to at least mitigate some unintentionally coded biases, creators or coders should engage in fact-based conversations around potential human biases before designing technology—–just to bring these potential biases to focus and to help their minds evolve past some hidden biases.
Thanks Dr. Watwood.
References
Manyika, J., Silberg, J., & Presten, B. (2019). What Do We Do About the Biases in AI? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/10/what-do-we-do-about-the-biases-in-ai.
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Vivian,
With two young daughters, I am constantly thinking about their future. I often ruminate on how different their lives will be, first of all, because they are women, and also the prevalence of cell phones and social media. It is so easy for people to say things that are hurtful behind a screen. How are laws caching up with cyberbullying?
Cameron
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Vivian,
The damage of cyberbullying is huge. You shared some heartbreaking stories of the victims of cyberbullying. We probably have no idea the extent of the harm and how it will impact teens when they become adults. I agree with your assessment that it is a public health issue. I think social media has such an extensive reach that’s another reason why cyberbullying is worse than traditional bullying.
Protecting our kids and vulnerable people should be a priority. You provide some good suggestions and research on this. Here is an article that shares the top 10 ways to stop cyberbully. Another point this article made is that with smartphones, harassment can be happening almost constantly. This is a hard problem to tackle, but it must be for the safety of our kids.
Megan
Top 10 ways to stop cyberbullying (n.d.). Kaspersky. https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/preemptive-safety/top-10-ways-to-stop-cyberbullying
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Thanks Megan.
I appreciate the article you shared about ways to stop cyberbullying. All 10 ways made perfect sense. All that is left is for these suggestions to be practiced more often. The two I have used in cases of adults cyberbullying other adults in the work place — which rarely gets discussed, since the focus in really on the young— are keeping copies of every correspondence received via email, text, or social media. Even just taking screen shots of the hostile messages will help later. Also, to practice self-regulation and not engage. As the article by Kaspersky pointed out, perpetrators are desperate for a reaction and an effect. They are desperate to see a person broken for entertainment purposes.
We will continue to be vigilant.
Thanks again.
Vivian
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Hi Vivian,
Thanks for your informative post. I completely agree that cyberbullying is a public health issue. In this new age of remote learning, it’s something we must stay vigilant about now that students are spending even more time online.
You say that the effects of cyberbullying may be more severe than traditional bullying because there is easy access at all times. This makes me think that before everyone had access to the internet if a student was being bullied, a parent might have transferred their child to a different school. Now, in this digital world, cyberbullying can follow you anywhere.
I think one important prevention strategy is building a strong school community where students feel comfortable talking to a trusted adult, whether it be a parent, teacher, or school counselor, to report a cyberbullying incident. Someone who is experiencing cyberbullying may feel fragile and needs support from a community that cares and is willing to help (Unicef, n.d.).
Also, I think schools should provide parents, especially those with limited digital literacy skills, with opportunities to develop their digital skills so they can monitor their child’s online activity.
You ask the question: Would you know if someone you love was being cyberbullied? It may be difficult if the victim of cyberbullying does not disclose the cyberbullying. However, we can be observant and notice changes in our loved ones and ask questions.
Unicef. (n.d.). Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop: 10 things teens want to know about cyberbullying. https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying
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Thank you for your response to my post.
It is definitely something to have on our minds, since most people are online now for various reasons and it is the main channel of communication for children and teenagers these days. They are very exposed and so maybe there should be more classes for children, teenagers, and adults on how best to navigate the opportunities and threats of the digital world. Knowledge on what to do might be the best way to prepare for cyberbullying incidences, since we can not control the behaviors of others.
You are right that it would be difficult to know if someone we know and care about is being cyberbullied unless they say something. I do safe environment training for Sunday school teachers at my parish, and I have only just added a few PowerPoint slides on cyberbullying. It had been over looked for awhile and thought to be manageable. However, if the children are too embarrassed or afraid to report it, we can not help. So the training allows the teachers to give them the knowledge to understand boundaries and that they would not get into any trouble for telling a trusted adult. They are taught about their “circle of grace” —the space around them both physically and psychologically where no one should have free access without their permission. They learn to recognize the inappropriate and the uncomfortable. They are uneasy with the discussion but are significantly more confident afterwards.
Thanks so much for the dialogue.
Vivian
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Vivian,
Your post spoke to me. As I am a person who experienced cyber bullying in high school from a peer.
Do you believe there are some of the same origins of cyber bullying could relate to physical bullying? Some sort of insecurity that is often displaced toward those who do not deserve it?
In what ways could parents, peers, and educational leadership support those who are bullies as well as those individuals that are being bullied?
Best,
Brandi
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As a parent of LGQTB child I am hyper vigilant of changes in my Childs behavior. My greatest fear is that someone will be so mean that it will drive him to consider taking his own life. Not exactly germane to this conversation but I volunteer with the Crisis Text Line on a weekly basis and although I haven’t directly dealt with someone in crisis who is being bullied however, we are trained to respond to situations of bullying. However, how do we expect our children and young teens to respect others when we have grown ups on television or on social media name calling?
As a child I had a childhood bully, he tormented me everyday and I dreaded going to school. I have also experienced workplace bullying and it got so bad that I considered injuring myself in a car accident, just badly enough to avoid work. These two episodes became foundational to me, and I vowed to also protect those most vulnerable from the bullies.
If you have time, I encourage you to listen to this speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70
In particular his advice on dealing with bullies “face down the bullies”!
Character still matters! There is no amount of money that in my mind could justify condoning this abhorrent behavior from those who should know better. This exact situation drove me to come out of my self-imposed social media purgatory with the following post. Warning, it is a little long but it was in response to the nonsense that has been posted by many that I know and others that I don’t but occupy positions of authority in the public sphere.
“I’ve started this message countless times, usually in response to a FB post, but I could never capture the tone I wanted. I always came across angry, irritated, and all of the above.
You know the email or text that you never send, which usually starts like this “Let me tell you something……….. #%^#^ insert colorful language.” I never sent for obvious reasons, that and my mom has a Facebook account; she has 4 or 5 accounts😳. So, I have always followed the “mom” rule as it relates to my online presence. Will, what I am about to post meet mom’s approval? So here goes…
Forgive those who trespass.
These last 18 months have been extremely tough for us all. We have lost so many that it is hard to even come to terms with the number of souls no longer with us. I truly pray for healing for all those who continue to grieve daily and let you know that you always have a friend in me, but more importantly, you have a friend in God!
Forgiveness is tough, and I know that for a fact. The Pastor spoke eloquently on this a few weeks back. Often we ask God for forgiveness without granting the same to those who have trespassed against us. Guilty as charged, my friends, but I am trying to do better.
I am reminded that harboring anger, hatred, and resentment within me contains the venom within me. I am the only one affected…
If these past 18 months have taught me anything, it is this. Our most precious commodity is not money; it is each other and our time. Money and material things can be replaced, but we cannot be replaced, nor can we get our time back.
So for those special friends in my circle grieving the loss of a loved one, those dealing with serious health issues, you know who you are, I see you, I hear you, and I love you. For those whom I have trespassed against, I humbly ask for your forgiveness.
Take care
Fred”
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Hi,
Indeed, the internet has negatively impacted youths, particularly teens, due to increased use of social media or networking whereby the issue of cyberbullying or online victimization, online harassment is common causing harm to adolescents. Therefore, action needs to be taken to help address the issues by controlling increased social media usage or the internet to reduce suicidal cases, depression, or anxiety. Thanks to my colleague for helping me remind society that online victimization or cyberbullying has brought more harm to our teens than benefits; thus, it needs to be controlled before causing more harm to their generation.
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