Digital Bullying

Digital Bullying

Savanna Brewton

What is cyberbullying?  Digital Bullying, also known as Cyberbullying, is an online epidemic plaguing the internet, especially impacting younger internet users. Cyberbullying involves the use of digital and social media platforms to target individuals with insensitive messaging at their expense. Pacer’s National Bullying Intervention Center identifies bullying as “the use of technology to repeatedly and intentionally harass, hurt, embarrass, humiliate, or intimidate another person” (1). Cyberbullying is often done by an individual who is hidden by a fake username and profile picture in an attempt to bully an individual anonymously. 

Originating in the late 1990s cyberbullying began to plague cyberspace as individuals learned they could use their household computers to anonymously harass other users online through chatrooms and forums (2). As the digital space has evolved throughout the years, social media has become a tool for connecting with like-minded individuals and friends from your phone, increasing the risk and presence of cyberbullying along with it.

Who is at risk of cyberbullying? Recent research provides insight into just how impactful cyberbullying is on young internet users. Roughly 36% of people reported to feeling cyberbullied in their lifetime and 60% of teens have reported experiencing cyberbullying as well (4). Multiracial females and LGBTQ individuals are most likely to fall prey to cyber bullies as individuals feel comfortable expressing harmful homophobic, mysoginistic, and racially insensitive commentary behind their anonymous digital presence (5). Anyone can fall prey to cyberbullies and everyone should be careful in cyberspace. 

What does it look like and how harmful is it really? There are various forms or methods of cyberbullying as cyberbullies can utilize social media, video games, texting, anonymous applications, or a myriad of other methods to bully their peers online (1). Cyberbullying can take many forms from inflammatory language commented on or messaged to users via anonymous accounts, doxing or the release of private information publicly against a user’s consent, cyberstalking, catfishing, or countless other forms of cyberbullying emerging online. It is important to note that cyberbullying is persistent, permanent (impossible to remove from the digital space), and often hard to notice (3).  

There are many reasons that cyberbullying occurs online, but research suggests that the most common targets were appearance, academic achievement, race, sexuality, financial status, religion, or other unspecified reasons (6). Cyberbullying has the highest prevalence among Instagram and TikTok with Facebook and Snapchat following close behind, while other social platforms should be carefully watched for as well (6). 

We know that cyberbullying is persistent, prevalent, and harder to spot, but it also has an incredibly harmful impact on its victims. Individuals who have experienced cyberbullying are not only at risk of things like anxiety or depression but “are 1.9 times more likely to commit suicide” (5). 2007 is the earliest legal case against cyberbullying as 13-year-old Megan Meier passed away as a result of bullying via Facebook, but despite the spike in cyberbullying-related suicides, federal legislation has not yet been passed (2). Cyberbullying is incredibly dangerous for young individuals and should be something that we as a society focus on identifying, stopping, and preventing future cyberbullying cases. 

How to stop it? The first step in tackling cyberbullying is to identify the signs. Some things to look out for are emotional unrest, reduction in smartphone use, and avoiding school or school-related activities (1). Long-term exposure to cyberbullying and negative media online can cause an increased likelihood of anxiety, depression, distress, lower states of well-being, and an increased risk of suicide (2).  It is very important to establish a strong positive and open line of communication with young individuals around you whether that be your child, a student, a family member, or someone else in your life that has access to online platforms. It is important to identify the signs and support those around you in dealing with cyberbullying. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying, remember to not engage with the bully, to quickly take screenshots in order to obtain evidence, and then block the antagonist. “Over 70% of teens say that blocking the account of the perpetrator was the most effective method for internet safety. Before talking to their parents or seeking any help, most US teens block their bullies’ social media accounts. They believe it to be the best way to prevent cyberbullying” (6). After choosing not to interact, collecting proof, and blocking the bully, report the individual to proper authorities, whether that be a parent, school official, social media platform, law enforcement, or all of the above. The best way to end cyber bullying is to report perpetrators so they can be stopped from causing further damage to themselves and others. 

It is very important that once a cyberbully has been reported that the victim receives proper interventions to help heal from the physical and emotional damage that cyberbullying can cause. Getting Real Counseling Center has a firm anti-bullying and anti-discrimination stance and is here to support those in our community in any way possible. Please reach out to us if you or someone you know may need counseling services. 

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For a PDF of response tips from cyberbullying.org, click here (8). https://cyberbullying.org/responding-to-cyberbullying-top-ten-tips-for-teens

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