What is Cyberbullying?
“Willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices”
“Willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices”
- Willful: The behavior has to be deliberate, not accidental
- Repeated: Bullying reflects a pattern of behavior, not just one isolated incident
- Harm: The target must perceive that harm was inflicted
- Computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices: Differentiates cyberbullying from traditional bullying
Cyberbulling Acts:
- Sending mean or threatening emails, instant messages, or text messages
- Tricking someone into revealing personal or embarrassing information and sending it to others
- Breaking into someone's email or instant message account to send cruel or untrue messages while posing as that person
- Creating websites to make fun of another person such as a classmate or teacher
- Using websites to rate peers as prettiest, ugliest, etc.
To inform prevention programs and policies and set the agenda for future research on the topic of electronic aggression, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health and Division of Violence Prevention, convened an expert panel on September 20–21, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia entitled Electronic Media and Youth Violence. The panel consisted of 13 members who came from academic institutions, federal agencies, a school system, and nonprofit organizations who were already engaged in work focusing on electronic media and youth violence.
- 47% of victims said the perpetrator was from their school.
- Instant messenger is the most common way electronic aggression is being demonstrated.
- The information currently available suggests that young people who were victims of internet harassment were significantly more likely than those who had not been victimized electronically to use alcohol and other drugs, receive school detention or suspension, skip school, and experience in-person victimization.
- Perpetrators of electronic aggression were more likely to believe that bullying peers and encouraging others to bully peers are acceptable behaviors.
- Parents and schools frequently install computer blocking software to prevent young people from accessing certain websites.
- The panel pointed to the potential benefit of programs that use media literacy, and suggested that media literacy may be a promising approach.
- To date, no strategies or programs have been evaluated for their effectiveness in addressing electronic aggression victimization or perpetration.