Cyberbullying: In one way, it’s nothing new. Kids have been bullying one another for generations. But looked at another way, cyberbullying is new. Teens can now use technology to expand the reach and extent of their harm in a way that previous generations couldn’t. When I was being cyberbullied I felt like I wanted to never go out of the house or talk to anyone ever again. It led me to depression, and the person who was bullying me . . . believed that it was funny.
—17-year-old from New Jersey
Cyberbullying is willful and repeated harm inflicted
through computers, cell phones, and other electronic
devices. For the past few years, we have researched cyber-
bullying, created an online clearinghouse of relevant
resources, and trained educators around the United States
on how to respond to this phenomenon. We have seen
that, for many teens, in the words of a 14-year-old we
interviewed,
Being bullied over the Internet is worse. It’s torment and
it hurts.
Cyberbullies use technology to harass, threaten, or
humiliate their peers. A teenager might e-mail hurtful or
intimidating messages to a fellow teen or promote gossip
and rumors by texting his or her entire peer group about
that person. Teens have created web pages, videos, and
profiles on social-networking sites that are dedicated to
making fun of another teen.
On other sites, teenagers can post peers’ photographs
and invite others to rate them in terms of physical attrac-
tiveness, often leading to hurtful comments. We’ve heard
of young people using a cell phone to surreptitiously take
photos—or videos—of someone in a bathroom, bedroom,
or other private space and distributing these images widely
online. A video of an unsuspecting classmate might show
up on You Tube for the world to see, rate, tag, and discuss.
Anonymous, Widespread, and Devastating
I try to ignore her, but she turns everyone against me and
makes my life miserable. She spreads awful rumors about me,
and I just can’t take it.
—14-year-old from Texas
Cyberbullying is a growing problem because increasing
numbers of young people use computers, cell phones, and
other interactive devices as their main form of social interaction. Online is where teenagers gather. Two-thirds of
youth between the ages of 12 and 17 go online every day
to do schoolwork, keep in touch with friends, play games,
or engage in other pursuits (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, &
Zickuhr, 2010).
Because online communication tools have become an
important part of their lives, it’s not surprising that some
kids have decided to use the technology to be malicious
or menacing toward others. Teens are able to connect to
technology 24/7, so they are susceptible to victimization
(and able to act on emotions and mean intentions) around
the clock.
Some teens find it easier to cyberbully others than to
torment them in person. Apart from the measure of anonymity that comes with posting online, it’s easier to type
out a hateful comment to someone than to speak it face-to-face. When a person uses hurtful words in real life,
the speaker can generally see the effect right away; but in
cyberspace, no swift response shows the inappropriateness
and effects of his or her actions. Online interaction is
PHOTO BY MEDIOIMAGES/PHOTODISC/GETTYIMAGES
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