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What are Cyberbullies?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Cyberbullies are people who send mean images and text to others. Generally, most people consider harmful material sent from a minor to another minor cyberbulling; the same behavior when adults are involved is called cyberharassment. Cyberbullies are a big issue for children, especially with growing use of the Internet and digital devices like cellphones with camera and texting capabilities. As a result, many school districts and youth advocates are working to combat cyberbullying, and to educate people about the behavior so that they can put a stop to it.

Harmful material can take a wide range of forms. A cyberbully might, for example, send cruel instant messages or emails. Cyberbullies also post harmful material on websites, often in very public locations so that other young people will find the material. Essentially, cyberbullying is garden variety bullying, taken to a whole new level; instead of just involving a close group of bullies, for example, cyberbullies might attract millions of readers with harmful websites, and these readers in turn may start harassing the victim as well. Cybervictims may be popular, well liked people one day and pariahs the next.

Cyberbullies should be reported to authorities for possible prosecution.
Cyberbullies should be reported to authorities for possible prosecution.

If cyberbullying doesn't sound serious to you, it should. Victims of cyberbullying have been forced to switch schools or miss large amounts of school in order to avoid hurtful taunting and humiliation. Children have even committed suicide over cyberbullying, and several instances of serious school violence such as shootings have been linked to cyberbullies. Since victims often feel alone and targeted, they are sometimes extremely shy about speaking up and asking for help, especially if they are young children.

Posting harmful gossip about an individual online is considered cyber bullying.
Posting harmful gossip about an individual online is considered cyber bullying.

Cyberbullies can be subject to severe legal penalties, although the law in regards to cyber harassment is still being shaped. Harmful material could be considered defamation, for example, and cybervictims can sue people who post such material. If someone receives repeated unwanted emails and texts, this can be considered harassment, and it is possible to get a restraining order to get the behavior to stop. Many school districts are working directly with law enforcement to address the cyberbully problem, and there may be penalties outside of school as well as in for someone who is a cyberbully.

There are legal options available to people who are receiving harassing texts and emails.
There are legal options available to people who are receiving harassing texts and emails.

Many teachers and law enforcement are training together to learn more about the behavior and how to stop it. Several organizations offer services like presentations to parents, school officials, law enforcement, and schools. These organizations hope to stamp out cyberbullying by clearing defining it and showing people how to stop it.

Everyone can take a role in fighting cyberbullies. If you are a victim, you should save any harmful material you receive and turn it over to your parents or the police. It is also important to remember that you should not respond to a cyberbully, as bullies want to goad you into responding. You may also want to change your account passwords to ensure that no one can access any websites with your log-on information. Always report cyberbullying and any other type of harassment to a teacher or member of law enforcement, and don't hesitate to get your parents involved as well.

If you see one of your peers being harassed on the Internet, speak up. The victim could just as easily be you, and even if it means going against your friends, you have an obligation to defend people who cannot defend themselves. If you can't get a cyberbully to stop, report him or her. Parents can also get involved in the fight against cyberbullies by bringing up concerns with teachers or the bully's parents, or working with law enforcement to put the behavior to a stop.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a EasyTechJunkie researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a EasyTechJunkie researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon261994

It's really horrible and heartless to cyber-bully so stop it now!

anon261991

Block, stop and tell, because we can make the change.

anon70417

cyberbullies are wimps who get their jollies hurting other people. That's not funny, it's cruel. Wanting to hurt others is a serious psychological issue. Psychopathic in nature. Seek professional help.

anon36955

frankly you'd have to be prety dumb to get cyber bullied. i mean for god's sake if they're leaving nasty comments on a myspace just don't use it/ its not like it will end your life.

oooh noo i'll lose all my friends and i'll have to collect them all again.

its like pokemon, the more friends you have the more pwer!

its people that ask questions like "why r god" that get cyberbullied because they're too stupid to stop it.

the end.

anon29794

Why would you ever want to bully someone? That's just wrong. Even if you think it's funny, it is not. You may not think you're doing it for some "psychological" reason, but what you're doing *is* psychological in itself.

You are hurting another person because you want something to laugh at. Explain, please, why that is funny?

anon27249

I am a long time cyberbully and I can tell you that we do it for the laughs, it brings plenty of them. We don't do it for any complex social or psychological reason, it's for the lulz.

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    • Cyberbullies should be reported to authorities for possible prosecution.
      By: creative soul
      Cyberbullies should be reported to authorities for possible prosecution.
    • Posting harmful gossip about an individual online is considered cyber bullying.
      By: jogyx
      Posting harmful gossip about an individual online is considered cyber bullying.
    • There are legal options available to people who are receiving harassing texts and emails.
      By: Arto
      There are legal options available to people who are receiving harassing texts and emails.