CyberBullying

Facts about cyberbullying

‘Cyberbullying is an action of harming or harassing via information technology networks in a repeated and deliberate manner.’ This is the scientific definition of what cyberbullying is, but the act goes much further than just a simple definition. It can take over a person’s life and invade their happiness.

Electronic aggression happens via many different platforms and across many different devices. Statistically speaking, the most amount of electronic aggression occurs by instant messaging.

Chatrooms 25%

Websites 23%

Email 25%

Text messages 16%

Instant messaging 67%

Cyberbullying affects people of any age or walk of life, including children, teenagers and adults. All people have the right to feel very distressed and alone by what happens online. Very often, issues which occur electronically are pushed to the side, and even made fun of by peers and close relatives. This can affect a person’s self-esteem and even lead to more sinister issues like self-harming and even suicide.

For many, cyberbullying affects their everyday lives and is a constant source of distress and worry. With mobile technology being so freely available, it is an ongoing issue and one which is relentless.

Devices allow the bullying to not only occur at school or college, but bullies can follow the victim home and invade their ‘safe’, private area which is home.

We need to be aware of cyberbullying and the effects that it can have. It is important that we monitor our own and other’s accounts to keep people safe!