Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, stalk, embarrass or otherwise intimidate someone. Although cyberbullying occurs among all age groups, it has become primarily a problem among teenagers and young adults, especially in the school environment.

Definition

Cyberbullying occurs when someone sends threatening, harassing or otherwise hurtful messages over the Internet, such as through social networking sites, forums, web pages and blogs, e-mail, or as telephone text messages. Cyberbullying is a form of aggression, and it may include indirect or direct threats, including suggestions that the receiver commit suicide.

Who Is Involved

Girls are more likely than boys to send and receive cyberbullying messages. Children and teenagers are most likely to receive cyberbullying messages as an instant message.

Frequency

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one survey reports that nearly half of the children ages 6 to 11 received cyberbullying messages while at school. And nearly one-fifth of students between the ages of 7 and 17 reported either receiving cyberbullying messages or sending them while on the Internet.

What to Do

Cyberbullying incidents should be reported immediately to school administrators or local authorities, such as the police department. Save messages or photographs as evidence. Try to track online messages through your Internet provider and block e-mail with a spam filter. Contact your phone company for help tracing phone messages. Do not reply to cyberbullying messages.

Laws

Some states have bullying laws on their books, which also cover cyberbullying. At the national level, as of 2009, the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act seeks to make it a federal crime to commit cyberbullying. However, the wording of the act is so vague that critics fear it will encroach on freedom of speech and allow the law to be abused.

Source:

Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use

Stop Bullying Now: Cyberbullying

U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team: Dealing With Cyberbullies

Resource:

National Crime Prevention Council: Cyberbullying

H.R. 1966: Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act

Opposing Views: "Cyberbullying" Law Would Be a Disaster to Free Speech