Cyberbullying has been defined as ââ¬Åthe use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. cyberbullying has gained mass media appeal and coverage, which may be related to numerous horrific behavioral outcomes as demonstrated by a rash of youth suicides by victims of cyberbullying. For sure, cyberbullying presents a new challenge for society and should garner specific attention as the digital age continues to unfold. The goal of this commentary is to highlight the growing prevalence of cyberbullying and the need for greater social awareness of its incidence. In doing so, the author identifies some common behaviors associated with victims of cyberbullying as well as attributes associated with its perpetrators. Lastly, I echo the call by researchers cited in this text and others on the need for greater knowledge development and derived best practices aimed at reducing the spread of cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying often coincides with face-to-face or physical bullying and its victims may experience loneliness, anger, high rates of depression, low self-esteem, an inability to concentrate on school work, poor school grades, anxiety, and even suicidal behavior. Many of its victims are unwilling to seek help because of perceived embarrassment and fear of further exposure and reprisal from initiators. Mishna et al. study revealed that youth were afraid of losing internet privileges and therefore less likely to report instances of experiencing cyberbullying to parents and school teachers.
Cyberbullying, Youth Behavior and Society
Martell Teasley
Last date updated on September, 2024