CYBER BULLYING

Cyber Bullying



Cyber Bullying

Introduction

Cyber-bullying is "the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others". Cyber bullying is used to harass others through the use of cellular phones, instant messages, social network sites such as Facebook, Mysapce, Twitter, chat rooms. Cyber bullying involves acts such as threatening people, sending provoking insults or ethical disgrace or racial insults, gay smashing, blackmailing people through email, sending virus through email, and over flooding the in-box by spam messages.

Cyber bullying is the old Problem in New-Age Packaging. Cyber-bullying is just one of the multi-faceted crimes that are affiliated with the worldwide web. This crime is actually no distinct than being bullied on a schoolyard playground increasing up, (unless you were the bully.) The stark compare here is that the playground is global; not just isolated to localized schools or communities (Kowalski, 2007). With the development of modern technology, children have more directions to socialize, interact in addition to communicate with each other than ever before. In addition, cyber bullying has the ability to make a child miserable and discourage attending school, possibly resulting in declining academic performance or even worse. As it has become more common in society, particularly among young people, legislation and awareness campaigns have arisen to combat it.

Discussion

Technological advancements are rapidly and continuously shaping and reshaping the world (Ellerman, 2007). Younger generations are more likely to use innovations such as Wikipedia, instant messaging, and cell phones rather than traditional devices such as encyclopedias and written letters (Ellerman, 2007). Hi-tech devices increase the speed and ease with which many tasks are completed, including the ability to communicate with others (Keith, Martin, 2005)Electronic innovations may make it easier for youth to keep in touch with known friends and family, as well as meet new friends or family members from around the world. Unfortunately, the internet, cell phones, and other communication devices may also make it easier for youth to engage in less desirable social activities including the transmission of aggressive and hurtful messages (Keith, Martin, 2005). Such online communications are commonly termed cyber bullying.

Cyber-bullying is a relatively new phenomenon and a search of Psyc Info produced only a little over a dozen recently published pertinent studies conducted around the world. Many of these preliminary studies have largely focused on variables such as prevalence, age, gender, rates of reporting, cyber-bully methods (e.g., email, cell phone, etc.) and correlations with schoolyard bullying. In an effort to expand the research base pertaining to this phenomenon, the following study was designed to provide insight into one of the many areas of cyber-bullying requiring further investigation. Direct and indirect cyber bullying was analyzed in the context of assessing youth's perceptions of harm, reporting, and consequences resulting from cyber-bullying behavior.

Youth Bullying

Extreme cases of bullying, as well as retaliation by victims of bullying, are regularly reported by the media. Even though, these particular cases are rare and sensationalized, they have drawn attention to the ...