how to write a speech about cyberbullying

How To Write An Impactful Speech On Bullying (Sample Speech Included)

Hrideep barot.

• Speech Writing

If you attended an educational institution, chances are that you are familiar with the word ‘bullying’. Even if you were not the one bullied, maybe you witnessed someone else being bullied. Or maybe you’ve simply heard the term mentioned by your teachers or other people in authority during an anti-bullying campaign or a speech of some sort.

Whatever the context, most people are familiar with the term bullying and what it entails. And yet, statistics are proof that simply possessing the knowledge that bullying is real does not necessarily mean that people will–or are–doing anything about it.

One out of five students has reported being bullied. 70% of school staff have seen bullying. The number of anti-bullying campaigns might be on the rise, yes, but as you can see, the number of students being bullied remains just as abhorrently high.

If you’re going to be delivering a speech against bullying, then it’s important for you to know these statistics. It’s only when you realize this that you will understand that simply giving a speech against bullying is not enough.

Instead, you must strive to deliver your speech in such a manner that it actually impacts other people & results in tangible changes.

Sounds tough, I know. But it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

By keeping in mind a few things like keeping your audience & occasion in mind, incorporating stories & videos, varying your speech pattern, and having a powerful opening as well as closing, you can deliver an impactful speech on bullying.

Tips For Delivering A Speech On Bullying

1. Keep The Occasion & Audience In Mind

What is the occasion? Are you delivering your speech for a school assembly, or is it for a professional campaign? Is your audience going to be comprised of bullies/bullying victims, or are they simply ordinary individuals wanting to know more about bullying?

The answer to these questions is going to alter how you should go about structuring your speech. For example, if you’re delivering your speech to school-going children, then you’re going to have to alter your speech to fit their understanding level.

2. Make It A Perfomance, Not Just A Speech

A speech connotates something that revolves around the words and the act of speaking. However, a performance is so much more than a speech: think of it as speech leveled up by multiple levels.

A performance includes speech, yes, but it also includes other important things like your voice modulation, expressions, gestures, body language, emotions, and storytelling, to name a new. A performance is a wholesome experience.

By providing your audience a wholesome experience instead of simply delivering a speech–something that they’ve probably heard multiple times before–you increase the chances that they will actually take an action to do something about it.

Our article, A Guide To Making Your Speech Interesting , has more tips on how to make your speech intriguing to the audience.

3. Tell Stories

Storytelling is an absolute must for any speech. It becomes even more important to include stories when you’re talking about something as sensitive as bullying. By telling stories, you make your speech–and the experience of bullying–more real to your audience.

You make your audience empathize with you as well as your topic. You make them realize that the victims and survivors of bullying are not some nameless humans that the audience doesn’t care about. You make the bullying survivors–and the bullies themselves– real .

You make them relate an abstract concept to real life, and to see things that are probably happening around them, but they’d never seen before.

4. Use Props

Props are another element that you must definitely incorporate in any speech or presentation. Props, like stories, can make your topic more tangible and easy to understand for the audience. They can also add a touch of uniqueness to your speech, and make it more memorable for the people attending.

However, before choosing your prop, you must ensure that it is relevant to the topic. Don’t just add a prop to your speech for the sake of adding it.

5. Change Your Speech Pattern

It’s not just the content of your speech that matters. The way you deliver your speech plays just as internal of a role in the impact you’ll make on your audience as the actual speech itself. Speech pattern is key to making an emotional impact on your audience’s mind.

You don’t want to sound like a robot while delivering your speech. Instead, mix up your speech pattern. If you’re going to be delivering an impactful quote, pause for a moment. If you’re reaching a serious point in your story, slow down your cadence. Vary your speech pattern.

6. Show Videos

Videos are an excellent way to make a connection with the audience. Videos will allow you to tell your story without resorting to just words. Videos can capture your audience’s attention & enhances your narrative to another level.

You can include short videos that you can easily find online. Alternatively, if you want to take up the creativity another notch, you can customize a video on your own & include it in your speech.

7. Have A Dynamic Opening & End

The way you open your speech–and how you close it–play a key role in determining the kind of impact you will make on your audience’s mind.

If your opening isn’t interesting enough, then you’ll end up losing your audience’s attention even before you have it. Alternatively, if your speech ending isn’t impactful enough, then your audience will probably forget about it the moment they leave–which is definitely something that no speaker wants.

For some inspiration on how to close your speech, check out our article on 10 Of The Best Things To Say In Closing Remarks.

5 Ways To Open Your Speech on Bullying

1. Make Them Imagine

Imagination is one of the strongest tools in your arsenal as a public speaker. By channeling the power of imagination right in the beginning of your speech, you can make your audience form a personal connection with the topic right off the bat.

By making your audience imagine being in a scenario related to bullying, you can make them empathize with your topic better. This is key if you wish for them to take actual steps to stop bullying.

For example: Imagine if we lived in a world that was actually free…

2. Ask Them A Rhethorical Question

Questions are an excellent way to get your audience thinking. Questions can act as a cognitive ‘wake-up’ for your audience & get their thoughts flowing. By asking your audience a question right in the beginning, you prime them for the rest of your speech.

So, pose a question to your audience at the beginning of your speech. Rhetorical questions are great speech openers. Because, unlike a regular question that most likely has a straightforward answer, rhetorical questions make your audience think more deeply.

For example: If you met someone who’d bullied you 15 years ago in high-school, what would you do?

3. Tell A Personal Story

Another great way to begin your speech is by telling them a personal story. Stories–especially if they’re personal–can make the audience form an instant connection with the speaker and the topic.

Have you been bullied in the past? Or did you witness someone get bullied–or stand up for themself in the most awesome way imaginable?

Now would be the time to include them.

For example: I was bullied for over three years during my…

4. Make A Bold Statement

Surprising your audience is a great way to begin your speech. By making a bold statement, you not only achieve this, but you also make your audience see you as a more confident & respectable figure. This increases the chances that they will perceive your speech in a positive light.

So, start off your speech with a bold statement.

For example : I wish bullies were treated the same as murderers.

5. Use Facts & Statistics

Statistics and facts are an age-old way to have a foolproof beginning. Statistics and facts can add shock value to your speech opening, and awaken your audience. They might also cause the audience to see your speech in a different light.

However, one thing to keep in mind while incorporating facts or statistics is to ensure that they’re not too complicated or include a lot of numbers. You want to keep your facts simple, and relevant to the topic at hand.

For example: 1 in 5 children reports being bullied during their high school…

For more ideas on how to open your speech, check out our article on 10 Of The Best Things To Say In Opening Remarks.

Sample Speech On Bullying

Bullying: It’s More Than Getting Punched

“Why don’t you just kill yourself?” This is the gift that arrived in my inbox on the morning of my fourteenth birthday. A fourteen year old girl–statements like these were a common part of my daily life. I’d listened to them every single day since I entered high-school. In fact, they were precisely the reason why I begged my parents to home school me in the first place. When I began my home-schooling journey, I did so with a lot of hope. Hope that I would finally be able to get away from the words that had been hurled at me every single day for the last two years. And yet, here we were. Not even a week had passed since I left the concrete halls of my high-school for the comfort and safety of my home, and yet as it turned out, home wasn’t safe either. Nothing was. Not in this new, techonology-driven world where people don’t need to be standing in front of you to communicate with you–or bully you. Or threaten your life. A few quick thrusts on the keypad, a couple of clicks, and it’s done. When people think of bullying, they often picture giant, violent figures towering over tiny, sobbing ones. Or hordes of people screaming insults at cowering figures in the hallway. Or pushing them against walls and banging their heads against toilet seats. While the incidents I’ve described still happen–and too often–bullying is so much more than that. Bullying, in the modern world, is like a hydra monster from the Greek Myths: it doesn’t have one face but ten, and every time you shack off one head, another one pops up in its place. We all know what to do if we’re bullied–or see someone else get bullied. We’ve heard it before, or maybe seen in the pamphlets on bulletin boards or in videos shown in classrooms. But before we take steps to stop bullying, we need to first learn how to identify it. Because unless and until we can recognize bullying when it happens to us–or to someone else–how will it matter whether we know the ways to stop it or not? Bullying can come in many forms. Bullying can be whispered insults when you think no one else is listening. Bullying can be deliberately pulling someone down on their happiest day. Bullying can be starting rumors about someone. Bullying can be tiny actions with no consequences–not for you, at least. It can be little jokes made by your ‘friends’–or little ‘bits of advice to lose weight or gain weight.’ Bullying can happen on the internet, through a string of messages that you hurl behind the mask of anonimity. Bullying can happen in the workplace, or in your college. Bullying can take the shape of prejudice, in the form of stealing opportunties from someone. Bullying can even happen in your own houseold, in your own relationship–and not just romantic ones. Bullying is not just physical. It has more than one dimension. Bullying can be emotional, social, spiritual…and many more things. And yet it is only one aspect of bullying that we tackle, the only one that gets talked about. It is a common misconception. If you hold it, I don’t blame you. After all, even I–a victim myself–held for a long, long time. In fact, in the beginning I didn’t even realize that I was getting bullied at all. After all, nobody ever physically punched me. I was never shoved against the lockers or punched in the face. By conventional definitions of bullying, I was never bullied. And I’m not the only one–a study showed that 64 % of bullying victoms never speak up about their bullying. It was only the day that the message arrived in my inbox that I realized that bullying can come in more than one shape or form. And most of them are forms that we’re not familiar with–at least, not yet. But we need to be. We need to recognize bullying–and we need to get better at doing it. Look at the people around you. You might not know it–they might not know it yet–but they may be getting bullied. And if you want to stop it, you must learn to see it first. They asked me why couldn’t I kill myself. I ask you: do you have the ability to recognize who they are?

To sum up, writing a speech on bullying is simple, and no different than any other speech. Keep in mind a few things like keeping your audience & occasion in mind, incorporating stories & videos, varying your speech pattern, and having a powerful opening as well as closing, and you can deliver an impactful speech on bullying.

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Speech On Bullying [1-2 Minutes]

Here is given an example of speech on bullying. This article can help you understand how to compose public speaking material on similar topics just like this one. Welcome To TheNextSkill.com . Let’s start.

Speech On Bullying For Students

Hello and good morning to all,

Before I deliver my speech I would like to wish you all the best wishes & I also want to thank you a lot for giving me a chance to share my views on this vital topic i.e bullying . Let me start with a story.

Our moral science book teaches us to treat others the way we want ourselves to be treated by others. It feels good when someone treats us with respect and love. In contrast, when someone shows lousy behaviour towards us, It hurts. One such behaviour is called bullying.

Bullying is aggressive behaviour towards one or more vulnerable persons. Those who do bullying are called bullies and they want to dominate the other person(s). Bullying can leave physical or emotional scars on the personality of the victim.

There are four types of bullying i.e. physical, psychological, verbal and cyberbullying. It can happen at any stage of life and any place in the world. Most notably, family members unknowingly bully an individual in various ways.

You might be surprised to know that a UNESCO report states that 32% of students are bullied at school. It is also noted that most boys suffer physical bullying while most girls suffer psychological bullying. No matter what gender the victim has, bullying is needed to be eliminated from society.

Like other countries in the world, the cases of bullying are increasing gradually in our country. Although the government has introduced many initiatives to fight this critical issue, the common man must also put some effort in this direction.

Maybe the victims are unable to take a stand for themselves. Others can help them by taking a stand on their behalf of them. In fact, the victims are one of us. Most important, parents must teach their children not to bully others as a lesson of morality.

To sum it up, it is our duty to prevent bullying in schools, colleges and other parts of the country. Not only bullying harms the victim but it also impacts the personality of bullies. Hence, it is also needed to improve the self-esteem of individuals so that they can develop a strong personality, not a loose one.

This is what I wanted to share with all of you. I hope it was helpful. Thank you for listening.

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1 Minute Speech on Cyber Bullying In English

A very good morning to one and all present here. Today, I’ll be giving a small speech on the topic ‘Cyberbullying’. 

Cyber Bullying is a serious criminal offense punishable under the law. Cyberbullying involves invading someone’s privacy virtually in the digital world and robbing one of their mental health thus. It essentially is to harass, threaten, or intimidate someone on the internet. 

Cyber Bullying is the next step for mean bullies- bullying as adults. It is a cheap and vulgar act to do, to hide behind masks and intrude into their personal space, 

Some acts of cyberbullying include sending unwanted messages to someone without their consent, spreading false information and rumours about them, commenting hateful things about them, hacking into one’s accounts, and impersonating them.

Thank you. 

Related Posts:

Cyber Bullying Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on cyber bullying.

Cyber Bullying Essay: In today’s world which has been made smaller by technology, new age problems have been born. No doubt technology has a lot of benefits; however, it also comes with a negative side. It has given birth to cyberbullying. To put it simply, cyberbullying refers to the misuse of information technology with the intention to harass others.

Subsequently, cyberbullying comes in various forms. It doesn’t necessarily mean hacking someone’s profiles or posing to be someone else. It also includes posting negative comments about somebody or spreading rumors to defame someone. As everyone is caught up on the social network, it makes it very easy for anyone to misuse this access.

In other words, cyberbullying has become very common nowadays. It includes actions to manipulate, harass and defame any person. These hostile actions are seriously damaging and can affect anyone easily and gravely. They take place on social media, public forums, and other online information websites. A cyberbully is not necessarily a stranger; it may also be someone you know.

Cyber Bullying is Dangerous

Cyberbullying is a multi-faced issue. However, the intention of this activity is one and the same. To hurt people and bring them harm. Cyberbullying is not a light matter. It needs to be taken seriously as it does have a lot of dangerous effects on the victim.

Moreover, it disturbs the peace of mind of a person. Many people are known to experience depression after they are cyberbullied. In addition, they indulge in self-harm. All the derogatory comments made about them makes them feel inferior.

It also results in a lot of insecurities and complexes. The victim which suffers cyberbullying in the form of harassing starts having self-doubt. When someone points at your insecurities, they only tend to enhance. Similarly, the victims worry and lose their inner peace.

Other than that, cyberbullying also tarnishes the image of a person. It hampers their reputation with the false rumors spread about them. Everything on social media spreads like wildfire. Moreover, people often question the credibility. Thus,  one false rumor destroys people’s lives.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

How to Prevent Cyber Bullying?

Cyberbullying prevention is the need of the hour. It needs to be monitored and put an end to. There are various ways to tackle cyberbullying. We can implement them at individual levels as well as authoritative levels.

Firstly, always teach your children to never share personal information online. For instance, if you list your home address or phone number there, it will make you a potential target of cyberbullying easily.

Secondly, avoid posting explicit photos of yourself online. Also, never discuss personal matters on social media. In other words, keep the information limited within your group of friends and family. Most importantly, never ever share your internet password and account details with anyone. Keep all this information to yourself alone. Be alert and do not click on mysterious links, they may be scams. In addition, teach your kids about cyberbullying and make them aware of what’s wrong and right.

In conclusion, awareness is the key to prevent online harassment. We should make the children aware from an early age so they are always cautious. Moreover, parents must monitor their children’s online activities and limit their usage. Most importantly, cyberbullying must be reported instantly without delay. This can prevent further incidents from taking place.

FAQs on Cyber Bullying

Q.1 Why is Cyberbullying dangerous?

A.1 Cyberbullying affects the mental peace of a person. It takes a toll on their mental health. Moreover, it tarnishes the reputation of an individual.

Q.2 How to prevent cyberbullying?

A.2 We may prevent cyberbullying by limiting the information we share online. In addition, we must make children aware of the forms of cyberbullying and its consequences.

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Cyberbullying: what is it and how to stop it, what teens want to know about cyberbullying..

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We brought together UNICEF specialists, international cyberbullying and child protection experts, and teamed up with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and X to answer some of the most common questions about online bullying and give advice on ways to deal with it. 

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:

• spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone on social media
• sending hurtful, abusive or threatening messages, images or videos via messaging platforms
• impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf or through fake accounts.

Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint – a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.

If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, you can seek help by calling your national helpline . If your country does not have a helpline, please urgently speak to an adult you trust or seek professional support from trained and experienced carers.

The top questions on cyberbullying

• Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?
• What are the effects of cyberbullying?
• How can cyberbullying affect my mental health?
• Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?
• I’m experiencing cyberbullying, but I’m afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?
• How can I help my friends report a case of cyberbullying especially if they don’t want to do it?
• How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the internet?
• How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?
• Is there a punishment for cyberbullying?
• Technology companies don’t seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?
• Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?

1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?

Unicef: .

All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you, especially online. Sometimes they’ll laugh it off with a “just kidding,” or “don’t take it so seriously.” 

But if you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you instead of with you, then the joke has gone too far. If it continues even after you’ve asked the person to stop and you are still feeling upset about it, then this could be bullying.

And when the bullying takes place online, it can result in unwanted attention from a wide range of people including strangers. Wherever it may happen, if you are not happy about it, you should not have to stand for it.

Call it what you will – if you feel bad and it doesn’t stop, then it’s worth getting help. Stopping cyberbullying is not just about calling out bullies, it’s also about recognizing that everyone deserves respect – online and in real life.

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2. What are the effects of cyberbullying?

When bullying happens online it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways:

• Mentally – feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even afraid or angry 
• Emotionally – feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love
• Physically – tired (loss of sleep), or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches 

The feeling of being laughed at or harassed by others, can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead to people taking their own lives. 

Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome and people can regain their confidence and health.

3. How can cyberbullying affect my mental health?

When you experience cyberbullying you might start to feel ashamed, nervous, anxious and insecure about what people say or think about you. This can lead to withdrawing from friends and family, negative thoughts and self-talk, feeling guilty about things you did or did not do, or feeling that you are being judged negatively. Feeling lonely, overwhelmed, frequent headaches, nausea or stomachaches are also common.

You can lose your motivation to do the things that you usually enjoy doing and feel isolated from the people you love and trust. This can perpetuate negative feelings and thoughts which can adversely affect your mental health and well-being.

Skipping school is another common effect of cyberbullying and can affect the mental health of young people who turn to substances like alcohol and drugs or violent behaviour to deal with their psychological and physical pain. Talking to a friend, family member or school counsellor you trust can be a first step to getting help.

The effects of cyberbullying on mental health can vary depending on the medium through which it happens. For example, bullying via text messaging or through pictures or videos on social media platforms has proven to be very harmful for adolescents.   

Cyberbullying opens the door to 24-hour harassment and can be very damaging. That’s why we offer in-app mental health and well-being support through our feature “ Here For You .” This Snapchat portal provides resources on mental health, grief, bullying, harassment, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, stress, and suicidal thoughts. It was developed in partnership with leading international advocacy and mental health organizations to help Snapchatters contend with some very real issues. Still, our foundational piece of guidance for any well-being issue is to talk to someone: a friend, parent, caregiver, trusted adult – anyone whom you trust to listen.

At Snap, nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our community.  Reach out and tell us how we might be able to help.    

Cyberbullying has the potential of having a negative impact on people's mental health. It's why it's so important that you reach out to someone you trust – whether it's a parent, teacher, friend or caregiver – and let them know what you're going through so that they can help you.

The well-being of our community matters hugely to us, and we recognise that cyberbullying can have an adverse impact on people's mental health. As well as taking strong action against content or behaviour that seeks to shame, bully or harass members of our community, we have partnered with experts to develop our well-being guide to help people learn more about improving their well-being, and keep TikTok a safe and inclusive home for our community.

4. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?

If you think you’re being bullied, the first step is to seek help from someone you trust such as your parents, a close family member or another trusted adult.

In your school you can reach out to a counsellor, the sports coach or your favourite teacher – either online or in person.

And if you are not comfortable talking to someone you know, search for a helpline in your country to talk to a professional counsellor.

If the bullying is happening on a social platform, consider blocking the bully and formally reporting their behaviour on the platform itself. Social media companies are obligated to keep their users safe.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key.

It can be helpful to collect evidence – text messages and screen shots of social media posts – to show what’s been going on.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key. It can also help to show the bully that their behaviour is unacceptable.

If you are in immediate danger, then you should contact the police or emergency services in your country.

Facebook/Instagram

At Meta, we take bullying and harassment situations seriously. Bullying and harassment is a unique challenge and one of the most complex issues to address because context is critical. We work hard to enforce against this content while also equipping our community with tools to protect themselves in ways that work best for them.

If you're experiencing bullying online, we encourage you to talk to a parent, teacher or someone else you can trust – you have a right to be safe and supported.

We also make it easy to report bullying directly within Facebook or Instagram. You can send our team a report from a post, comment, story or direct message (DM). Your report is anonymous; the account you reported won’t see who reported them. We have a team who reviews these reports 24/7 around the world in 70+ languages and we will remove anything that violates our policies.

Meta’s Family Center offers resources, insights and expert guidance to help parents, guardians and trusted adults support their teen’s online experiences across our technologies. Additionally, the Meta Safety Center provides bullying prevention resources that can help teens seeking support for issues related to bullying like what to do if you or a friend is being bullied or if you've been called a bully. For educators , we have expert-backed tips on how to proactively handle and work to implement bullying prevention strategies

Bullying is something no one should have to experience, either in person or online. 

Snapchat’s Community Guidelines clearly and explicitly prohibit bullying, intimidation, and harassment of any kind. We don’t want it on the platform; it’s not in keeping with why Snapchat was created and designed. Learn more here .

Letting us know when you experience or witness someone breaking our rules allows us to take action, which helps to protect you and other members of our community. In addition to reporting violating content or behaviour to Snapchat, speak with a friend, parent, caregiver, or other trusted adult. Our goal is for everyone to stay safe and have fun!

Everyone has the right to feel safe and to be treated with respect and dignity. Bullying and harassment are incompatible with the inclusive environment we aim to foster on TikTok. 

If you ever feel someone is bullying you or otherwise being inappropriate, reach out to someone you trust - for example, a parent, a teacher or a caregiver – who can provide support.

We deploy both technology and thousands of safety professionals to help keep bullying off TikTok. We also encourage our community members to make use of the easy in-app reporting tools to alert us if they or someone they know has experienced bullying. You can report videos, comments, accounts and direct messages so that we can take appropriate action and help keep you safe. Reports are always confidential. 

You can find out more in our Bullying Prevention guide for teens, caregivers, and educators on how to identify and prevent bullying, and provide support.

Being the target of bullying online is not easy to deal with. If you are being cyberbullied, the most important thing to do is to ensure you are safe. It’s essential to have someone to talk to about what you are going through. This may be a teacher, another trusted adult, or a parent. Talk to your parents and friends about what to do if you or a friend are being cyberbullied.

We encourage people to report accounts to us that may break our  rules . You can do this on our  Help Center  or through the in-post reporting mechanism by clicking on the “Report a post” option.

Last updated: January 2022.

5. I’m experiencing cyberbullying, but I’m afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?

If you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult – someone you feel safe talking to – is one of the most important first steps you can take.

Talking to parents isn’t easy for everyone. But there are things you can do to help the conversation. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention. Explain how serious the problem is for you. Remember, they might not be as familiar with technology as you are, so you might need to help them to understand what’s happening.

They might not have instant answers for you, but they are likely to want to help and together you can find a solution. Two heads are always better than one! If you are still unsure about what to do, consider reaching out to other trusted people . There are often more people who care about you and are willing to help than you might think!

6. How can I help my friends report a case of cyberbullying especially if they don’t want to do it?

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying. If you see this happening to someone you know, try to offer support.

It is important to listen to your friend. Why don’t they want to report being cyberbullied? How are they feeling? Let them know that they don’t have to formally report anything, but it’s crucial to talk to someone who might be able to help.

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying.

Remember, your friend may be feeling fragile. Be kind to them. Help them think through what they might say and to whom. Offer to go with them if they decide to report. Most importantly, remind them that you’re there for them and you want to help.

If your friend still does not want to report the incident, then support them in finding a trusted adult who can help them deal with the situation. Remember that in certain situations the consequences of cyberbullying can be life threatening.

Doing nothing can leave the person feeling that everyone is against them or that nobody cares. Your words can make a difference.

We know that it can be hard to report bullying, but everyone deserves to feel safe online. If your friend is experiencing cyberbullying, encourage them to talk to a parent, a teacher or an adult they trust.

Reporting content or accounts to Facebook or Instagram is anonymous and can help us better keep our platforms safe. Bullying and harassment are highly personal by nature, so in many instances, we need a person to report this behaviour to us before we can identify or remove it. You can report something you experience yourself, but it’s also just as easy to submit a report for one of your friends. You can find more information on how to report something on our How to Report Bullying section  at the Meta Safety Center.

You and your friends may be reluctant to report to a technology platform for any number of reasons, but it’s important to know that reporting on Snapchat is confidential and easy. And remember: You can report Snaps (photos and videos), Chats (messages) and accounts – about your own experiences or on behalf of someone else. 

In the more public places of Snapchat, like Stories and Spotlight, simply press and hold on the piece of content and a card with “Report Tile” (as one option) will appear in red. Click that link and our reporting menu will appear. Bullying and harassment are among the first categories in the reporting list. Just follow the prompts and provide as much information as you can about the incident. We appreciate you doing your part to help us protect the Snapchat community!  

If you believe another member of the TikTok community is being bullied or harassed, there are ways you can provide support. For example, you can make a confidential report on TikTok so that we take appropriate action and help keep your friend safe. 

If you know the person, consider checking in with them and encourage them to read our Bullying Prevention guide so they can find out more information about how to identify bullying behaviour and take action.

If your friends are experiencing cyberbullying, encourage them to talk to a parent, a teacher or an adult they trust.

If a friend of yours does not want to report their experience, you can submit a bystander report  on their behalf. This can include reports of private information , non -consensual nudity  or impersonation.

7. How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the Internet?

Being online has so many benefits. However, like many things in life, it comes with risks that you need to protect against.

If you experience cyberbullying, you may want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while to give yourself time to recover. But getting off the Internet is not a long-term solution. You did nothing wrong, so why should you be disadvantaged? It may even send the bullies the wrong signal — encouraging their unacceptable behaviour. 

We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others.

We all want cyberbullying to stop, which is one of the reasons reporting cyberbullying is so important. But creating the Internet we want goes beyond calling out bullying. We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others. We need to be kind to one another online and in real life. It's up to all of us!

We’re continuously developing new technologies  to encourage positive interactions and take action on harmful content, and launching new tools to help people have more control over their experience. Here are some tools you can use:

• Comment warnings: When someone writes a caption or a comment that our AI detects as potentially offensive or intended to harass, we will show them an alert that asks them to pause and reflect on whether they would like to edit their language before it’s posted.
• Comment and message controls: Comments with common offensive words, phrases or emojis, and abusive messages or messages from strangers can be automatically hidden or filtered out with the ‘ Hidden words ’ setting, which is defaulted on for all people. If you want an even more personalized experience, you can create a custom list of emojis, words or phrases you don’t want to see, and comments containing these terms won’t appear under your posts and messages will be sent to a filtered inbox. All Instagram accounts have the option to switch off DMs from people they don’t follow. Messenger also gives you the option to ignore a conversation and automatically move it out of your inbox, without having to block the sender.
• Block and Mute: You can always  block  or  mute  an account that is bullying you, and that account will not be notified. When you block someone on Instagram, you’ll also have the option to block other accounts they may have or create, making it more difficult for them to interact with you.
• Restrict: With ‘Restrict,’ you can protect your account from unwanted interactions in a quieter, or more subtle way. Once Restrict is enabled, comments on your posts from a person you have restricted will only be visible to that person. You can choose to view the comment by tapping “See Comment”; approve the comment so everyone can see it; delete it; or ignore it. You won’t receive any notifications for comments from a restricted account.
• Limits:  You can automatically hide comments and DM requests from people who don’t follow you, or who only recently followed you. If you’re going through an influx of unwanted comments or messages — or think you may be about to — you can turn on Limits and avoid it.

Our priority is to foster a welcoming and safe environment where people feel free to express themselves authentically. Our Community Guidelines make clear that we do not tolerate members of our community being shamed, bullied or harassed. 

We use a combination of technology and moderation teams to help us identify and remove abusive content or behaviour from our platform. 

We also provide our community with an extensive range of tools to help them better control their experience – whether it's control over exactly who can view and interact with your content or filtering tools to help you stay in control of comments. You can find out about them on our Safety Centre . 

Since hundreds of millions of people share ideas on X every day, it’s no surprise that we don’t all agree with each other all the time. That’s one of the benefits of a public conversation in that we can all learn from respectful disagreements and discussions.

But sometimes, after you’ve listened to someone for a while, you may not want to hear them anymore. Their right to express themselves doesn’t mean you’re required to listen. If you see or receive a reply you don’t like, unfollow  and end any communication with that account. If the behaviour continues, it is recommended that you block the account . If you continue receiving unwanted, targeted and continuous replies on X, consider reporting the behaviour to X here .

We are also working proactively to protect people using our service through a combination of human review and technology. Learn more about how to feel safer on X here .

8. How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?

Think twice before posting or sharing anything on digital platforms – it may be online forever and could be used to harm you later. Don’t give out personal details such as your address, telephone number or the name of your school.

Learn about the privacy settings of your favourite social media apps. Here are some actions you can take on many of them: 

• You can decide who can see your profile, send you direct messages or comment on your posts by adjusting your account privacy settings. 
• You can report hurtful comments, messages, photos and videos and request they be removed.
• Besides ‘unfriending’, you can completely block people to stop them from seeing your profile or contacting you.
• You can also choose to have comments by certain people to appear only to them without completely blocking them.
• You can delete posts on your profile or hide them from specific people. 

On most of your favourite social media, people aren't notified when you block, restrict or report them.

9. Is there a punishment for cyberbullying?

Most schools take bullying seriously and will take action against it. If you are being cyberbullied by other students, report it to your school.

People who are victims of any form of violence, including bullying and cyberbullying, have a right to justice and to have the offender held accountable.

Laws against bullying, particularly on cyberbullying, are relatively new and still do not exist everywhere. This is why many countries rely on other relevant laws, such as ones against harassment, to punish cyberbullies.

In countries that have specific laws on cyberbullying, online behaviour that deliberately causes serious emotional distress is seen as criminal activity. In some of these countries, victims of cyberbullying can seek protection, prohibit communication from a specified person and restrict the use of electronic devices used by that person for cyberbullying, temporarily or permanently.

However, it is important to remember that punishment is not always the most effective way to change the behaviour of bullies. Sometimes, focusing on repairing the harm and mending the relationship can be better.

On Facebook, we have a set of  Community Standards , and on Instagram, we have  Community Guidelines . We take action when we are aware of content that violates these policies, like in the case of bullying or harassment, and we are constantly improving our detection tools so we can find this content faster.

Bullying and harassment can happen in many places and come in many different forms from making threats and releasing personally identifiable information to sending threatening messages and making unwanted malicious contact. We do not tolerate this kind of behavior because it prevents people from feeling safe and respected on our apps.

Making sure people don’t see hateful or harassing content in direct messages can be challenging, given they’re private conversations, but we are taking steps to take tougher action when we become aware of people breaking our rules. If someone continues to send violating messages, we will disable their account. We’ll also disable new accounts created to get around our messaging restrictions and will continue to disable accounts we find that are created purely to send harmful messages.

On Snapchat, reports of cyberbullying are reviewed by Snap’s dedicated Trust & Safety teams, which operate around the clock and around the globe. Individuals found to be involved in cyberbullying may be given a warning, their accounts might be suspended or their accounts could be shut down completely. 

We recommend leaving any group chat where bullying or any unwelcome behaviour is taking place and please report the behaviour and/or the account to us.  

Our Community Guidelines define a set of norms and common code of conduct for TikTok and they provide guidance on what is and is not allowed to make a welcoming space for everyone. We make it clear that we do not tolerate members of our community being shamed, bullied or harassed. We take action against any such content and accounts, including removal.

We strongly enforce our rules to ensure all people can participate in the public conversation freely and safely. These rules specifically cover a number of areas including topics such as:

• Child sexual exploitation
• Abuse/harassment
• Hateful conduct
• Suicide or self-harm
• Sharing of sensitive media, including graphic violence and adult content

As part of these rules, we take a number of different enforcement actions when content is in violation. When we take enforcement actions, we may do so either on a specific piece of content (e.g., an individual post or Direct Message) or on an account.

You can find more on our enforcement actions here .

10. Technology companies don’t seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?

Technology companies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of online bullying.

Many of them are introducing ways to address it and better protect their users with new tools, guidance and ways to report online abuse.

But it is true that more is needed. Many young people experience cyberbullying every day. Some face extreme forms of online abuse. Some have taken their own lives as a result.

Technology companies have a responsibility to protect their users especially children and young people.

It is up to all of us to hold them accountable when they’re not living up to these responsibilities.

11. Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?

Each social platform offers different tools (see available ones below) that allow you to restrict who can comment on or view your posts or who can connect automatically as a friend, and to report cases of bullying. Many of them involve simple steps to block, mute or report cyberbullying. We encourage you to explore them.

Social media companies also provide educational tools and guidance for children, parents and teachers to learn about risks and ways to stay safe online.

Also, the first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you. Think about where cyberbullying happens in your community and ways you can help – by raising your voice, calling out bullies, reaching out to trusted adults or by creating awareness of the issue. Even a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

The first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you.

If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, urgently speak to an adult you trust. Many countries have a special helpline you can call for free and talk to someone anonymously. Visit  United for Global Mental Health to find help in your country.

We have a number of anti-bullying tools across Facebook and Instagram:

• You can block people, including any existing and new accounts they might create.
• You can  mute  an account and that account will not be notified.
• You can limit unwanted interactions for a period of time by automatically hiding comments and message requests from people who don’t follow you, or who only recently followed you.
• You can use ‘ Restrict ’ to discreetly protect your account without that person being notified.
• You can  moderate comments  on your own posts.
• You can  modify your settings  so that only people you follow can send you a direct message.
• We will notify someone when they’re about to post something that might cross the line, encouraging them to reconsider.
• We automatically filter out comments and message requests that don’t go against our Community Guidelines but may be considered inappropriate or offensive. You can also create your own custom list of emojis, words or phrases that you don’t want to see.

For more tips and ideas, visit Instagram’s Safety page and Facebook’s Bullying Prevention Hub . We also offer resources, insights and expert guidance for parents and guardians on our Family Center .

We want teens and young adults to be aware of the blocking and removal functions on Snapchat. Clicking on the person’s avatar will bring up a three-dot menu in the upper right-hand corner. Opening that menu offers the option of “Manage Friendship,” which, in turn, offers the ability to Report, Block or Remove the person as a friend. Know that if you block someone, they will be told that their Snaps and Chats to you will be delivered once the relationship is restored.  

It’s also a good idea to check privacy settings to ensure they continue to be set to the default setting of “Friends Only.” This way, only people you’ve added as Friends can send you Snaps and Chats.  

We also recommend reviewing your Friends’ list from time to time to ensure it includes those people you still want to be friends with on Snapchat.  

Alongside the work that our safety teams do to help keep bullying and harassment off our platform, we provide an extensive range of tools to help you control your TikTok experience. You can find these in full on our Safety Centre . Here are a few highlights:

• You can restrict who comments on your videos to no one, just friends or everyone (for those aged under 16, the everyone setting is not available)
• You can filter all comments or those with specific keywords that you choose. By default, spam and offensive comments are hidden from users when we detect them.
• You can delete or report multiple comments at once, and you can block accounts that post bullying or other negative comments in bulk too, up to 100 at a time.
• A comment prompt asks people to reconsider posting a comment that may be inappropriate or unkind, reminding them of our Community Guidelines and allowing them to edit their comments before sharing.

We want everybody to be safe on X. We continue to launch and improve tools for people to feel safer, be in control and manage their digital footprint. Here are some safety tools anyone on X can use: 

• Select who can reply to your posts  – either everyone, only people you follow or only people you mention
• Mute – removing an account's posts from your timeline without unfollowing or blocking that account
• Block – restricting specific accounts from contacting you, seeing your posts, and following you
• Report – filing a report about abusive behaviour
• Safety mode  – a feature that temporarily blocks accounts for using potentially harmful language or sending repetitive and uninvited replies or mentions.

With special thanks to:  Meta, Snap, TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter). Last updated: February 2024.

To anyone who has ever been bullied online: You are not alone

TikTok stars Charli and Dixie D'Amelio open up about their personal experience of being bullied and share tips on how to make the internet a better place.

Reporting abuse and safety resources

Facebook instagram kik snapchat, tiktok tumblr wechat whatsapp youtube x, take action to stop cyberbullying.

The consequences of cyberbullying can be devastating. Youth can take action to stop it

5 ways to support your mental health online

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Tips and resources to help you support your child and yourself

Cyberbullying: What is it and how can you stop it?

Explore the latest psychological science about the impact of cyberbullying and what to do if you or your child is a victim

• Mental Health
• Social Media and Internet

Cyberbullying can happen anywhere with an internet connection. While traditional, in-person bullying is still more common , data from the Cyberbullying Research Center suggest about 1 in every 4 teens has experienced cyberbullying, and about 1 in 6 has been a perpetrator. About 1 in 5 tweens, or kids ages 9 to 12, has been involved in cyberbullying (PDF, 5.57MB) .

As technology advances, so do opportunities to connect with people—but unfettered access to others isn’t always a good thing, especially for youth. Research has long linked more screen time with lower psychological well-being , including higher rates of anxiety and depression. The risk of harm is higher when kids and teens are victimized by cyberbullying.

Here’s what you need to know about cyberbullying, and psychology’s role in stopping it.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying occurs when someone uses technology to demean, inflict harm, or cause pain to another person. It is “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” Perpetrators bully victims in any online setting, including social media, video or computer games, discussion boards, or text messaging on mobile devices.

Virtual bullying can affect anyone, regardless of age. However, the term “cyberbullying” usually refers to online bullying among children and teenagers. It may involve name calling, threats, sharing private or embarrassing photos, or excluding others.

One bully can harass another person online or several bullies can gang up on an individual. While a stranger can incite cyberbullying, it more frequently occurs among kids or teens who know each other from school or other social settings. Research suggests bullying often happens both at school and online .

Online harassment between adults can involve different terms, depending on the relationship and context. For example, dating violence, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, and scamming—more common among adults—can all happen on the internet.

How can cyberbullying impact the mental health of myself or my child?

Any form of bullying can negatively affect the victim’s well-being, both at the time the bullying occurs and in the future. Psychological research suggests being victimized by a cyberbully increases stress and may result in anxiety and depression symptoms . Some studies find anxiety and depression increase the likelihood adolescents will become victims to cyberbullying .

Cyberbullying can also cause educational harm , affecting a student’s attendance or academic performance, especially when bullying occurs both online and in school or when a student has to face their online bully in the classroom. Kids and teens may rely on negative coping mechanisms, such as substance use, to deal with the stress of cyberbullying. In extreme cases, kids and teens may struggle with self-harm or suicidal ideation .

How can parents talk to their children about cyberbullying?

Parents play a crucial role in preventing cyberbullying and associated harms. Be aware of what your kids are doing online, whether you check your child’s device, talk to them about their online behaviors, or install a monitoring program. Set rules about who your child can friend or interact with on social media platforms. For example, tell your child if they wouldn’t invite someone to your house, then they shouldn’t give them access to their social media accounts. Parents should also familiarize themselves with signs of cyberbullying , such as increased device use, anger or anxiety after using a device, or hiding devices when others are nearby.

Communicating regularly about cyberbullying is an important component in preventing it from affecting your child’s well-being. Psychologists recommend talking to kids about how to be safe online before they have personal access to the internet. Familiarize your child with the concept of cyberbullying as soon as they can understand it. Develop a game plan to problem solve if it occurs. Cultivating open dialogue about cyberbullying can ensure kids can identify the experience and tell an adult, before it escalates into a more harmful situation.

It’s also important to teach kids what to do if someone else is being victimized. For example, encourage your child to tell a teacher or parent if someone they know is experiencing cyberbullying.

Keep in mind kids may be hesitant to open up about cyberbullying because they’re afraid they’ll lose access to their devices. Encourage your child to be open with you by reminding them they won’t get in trouble for talking to you about cyberbullying. Clearly explain your goal is to allow them to communicate with their friends safely online.

How can I report cyberbullying?

How you handle cyberbullying depends on a few factors, such as the type of bullying and your child’s age. You may choose to intervene by helping a younger child problem solve whereas teens may prefer to handle the bullying on their own with a caregiver’s support.

In general, it’s a good practice to take screenshots of the cyberbullying incidents as a record, but not to respond to bullies’ messages. Consider blocking cyberbullies to prevent future harassment.

Parents should contact the app or website directly about removing bullying-related posts, especially if they reveal private or embarrassing information. Some social media sites suspend perpetrators’ accounts.

If the bullying also occurs at school or on a school-owned device, or if the bullying is affecting a child’s school performance, it may be appropriate to speak with your child’s teacher or school personnel.

What are the legal ramifications of cyberbullying?

In some cases, parents should report cyberbullying to law enforcement. If cyberbullying includes threats to someone’s physical safety, consider contacting your local police department.

What’s illegal can vary from state to state. Any illegal behaviors, such as blackmailing someone to send money, hate crimes, stalking, or posting sexual photos of a minor, can have legal repercussions. If you’re not sure about what’s legal and what’s not, check your state’s laws and law enforcement .

Are big tech companies responsible for promoting positive digital spaces?

In an ideal world, tech companies would prioritize creating safer online environments for young people. Some companies are working toward it already, including partnering with psychologists to better understand how their products affect kids, and how to keep them safe. But going the extra mile isn’t always profitable for technology companies. For now, it’s up to individuals, families, and communities to protect kids’ and teens’ best interest online.

What does the research show about psychology’s role in reducing this issue?

Many studies show preventative measures can drastically reduce cyberbullying perpetration and victimization . Parents and caregivers, schools, and technology companies play a role in educating kids about media literacy and mental health. Psychologists—thanks to their expertise in child and teen development, communication, relationships, and mental health—can also make important contributions in preventing cyberbullying.

Because cybervictimization coincides with anxiety and depression, research suggests mental health clinicians and educators should consider interventions that both address adolescents’ online experiences and support their mental, social, and emotional well-being. Psychologists can also help parents speak to their kids about cyberbullying, along with supporting families affected by it.

You can learn more about cyberbullying at these websites:

• Cyberbullying Research Center
• StopBullying.gov
• Nemours Kids Health

Acknowledgments

APA gratefully acknowledges the following contributors to this publication:

• Sarah Domoff, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Central Michigan University
• Dorothy Espelage, PhD, William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of North Carolina
• Stephanie Fredrick, PhD, NCSP, assistant professor and associate director of the Dr. Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York
• Brian TaeHyuk Keum, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Social Welfare at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
• Mitchell J. Prinstein, PhD, chief science officer at APA
• Susan Swearer, PhD, Willa Cather Professor of School Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; licensed psychologist

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78 Cyber Bullying Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best cyber bullying topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 interesting topics to write about cyber bullying, 👍 good essay topics on cyber bullying, ❓ questions about cyberbullying research.

• Cyber Bullying Issue Therefore, the goal of this paper is to analyse who the victims of cyber bullying are and the influence it has on them.
• Is Cyber Bullying Against Teenagers More Detrimental Than Face-To-Face Bullying? Social networking has also contributed greatly to the issue of cyber bullying especially in making it more harmful as compared to face-to-face bullying.
• Cyber Bullying Prevention in Learning Institutions: Systematic Approach To start with, the students are provided with ways of reporting their concern to the educational institution, and when the staff members of the institution receive the report, they evaluate the information together with the […]
• The Effects of Cyber-Bullying and Cyber-Stalking on the Society In particular, one should focus on such issues as the disrespect for a person’s autonomy, the growing intensity of domestic violence and deteriorating mental health in the country.
• Cyber Bullying Reduction Program Table of Activities Activity Significance Assembling parents/guardians, students and teachers to announce and explain the program in the institution To enlighten parents/guardians, students and teachers about the rules and regulation enacted due to the threat […]
• Discouraging and Eliminating Cyber Bullying Resources Role of the resource/input Statement forms To facilitate information transfer to the staff Counseling Personnel To arm students against the problem Bullying report system To create efficient internet enhance report system Regulation implementation documents […]
• Cyber Bullying and Its Forms The difference between the conventional way of bullying and cyber bullying is that in conventional bullying, there is contact between the bully and the victim.
• Ethics in Technology: Cyber Crimes Furthermore, the defendant altered the data, which compromised the integrity of the information to the detriment of the organizations involved. In this litigation, Aleksey Vladimirovich Ivanov was the defendant while the American government was the […]
• Cyber Bullying as a Virtual Menace The use of information and communication technologies to support a deliberate and most of the time repeated hostile behavior by an individual or groups of people with the sole intention of harming others, one is […]
• Ethical Case: Facebook Gossip or Cyberbullying? The best option to Paige is to apologize publicly and withdraw her comments. The final stage is to act and reflect the outcome of the choice made.
• Freedom Of Speech In The Era Of Cyber Bullying
• The Negative Impacts of Technology on Social Skills: Anxiety, Awkward Conversations, Cyber Bullying, and Lack of Awareness
• Different Consequences of Cyber Bullying in School
• The Study Of Cyber Bullying Victimization On Children Who Are Addicted To The Internet
• The Causes and Harmful Effects of Cyber Bullying
• Why Do Cyber Bullying Laws Need to Be Enforced
• Unsecured Privacy Settings, Cyber Bullying, And Facebook Crime
• Bullying Carried too Far: Cyber Bullying and Violent Bullying
• Cyber Bullying: Misuse of Information and Communications Technology
• Cyber Bullying and Why Parents Need to Monitor Their Children’s Activity
• The Detrimental Effects of Cyber Bullying
• Cyber Bullying, Its Forms, Impact, and Relationship to Juvenile Delinquency
• How Cyber Bullying Affects Our Lives Negatively
• The Effects Of Cyber Bullying On Substance Use And Mental Health
• Cyberbullying : Causes And Dangers Of Cyber Bullying
• The Effects Of Cyber Bullying On The Mental Health Of Middle School Aged Youth
• Is Cyber Bullying Morally Justifiable
• Cyber Bullying And Its Effect On Our Youth
• An Analysis of Cyber Bullying in Today’s World
• Cyber Bullying And Its Effect On The Lives Of The American
• Bullying And The Potential Motives Behind Cyber Bullying
• Cyber Bullying And Its Various Forms
• Bullying In The Digital Age: Electronic Or Cyber Bullying
• Information Technology – Role of Social Networking Cites in Cyber Bullying
• Cyber Bullying : A Consistent Problem For Young People
• Cause And Effect Of Cyber Bullying
• Cyber Bullying, Creating a Culture of Respect
• Cyber Bullying And Its Effect On Adolescents
• Prevention And Intervention Of Cyber Bullying
• Investigating Cyber Bullying Using Social Media
• Cyber Bullying Affects People ‘s Lives More Than One Might Think
• The Cyber Crime and the Cyber Bullying
• The Cause of Cyber Bullying and the Effect of the Mental Development of Teenagers
• Cyber Bullying: An Uncontrollable Epidemic
• The Psychological Impact of Cyber Bullying
• The Eternal Effects Of Cyber Bullying
• Cyber Bullying : Bullying Through Technology
• Why Does Online Anonymity Increase Cyberbullying Among Teenagers?
• Are Laws Effective Strategy Address Issue Cyberbullying?
• Are Schools Doing Enough About Cyberbullying?
• What Are the Causes of Cyberbullying?
• What Is the Prevention of Cyberbullying?
• Is Cyberbullying Related to a Lack of Empathy and Social-Emotional Problems?
• How Often Do Celebrities Suffer From Cyberbullying?
• What Are the Characteristics of Cyberbullying Among Students?
• How Does Social Integration of Children Help to Combat Cyberbullying?
• What Is the Correlation Between Suicide Rates and Cyberbullying?
• How Does Cyberbullying Affect Society?
• What Is the Correlation Between Depression, Bullying and Cyberbullying?
• Are There Gender Differences in Cyberbullying?
• What Is the Criminal Penalty for Cyberbullying?
• What International Associations Prevent Cyberbullying?
• What Is the Role of Affective and Cognitive Empathy in Cyberbullying?
• What Are the Solutions to Cyberbullying?
• Can Cyberbullying Be Called Cyber Crime?
• What Is the Role of Teachers in Preventing Cyberbullying?
• Can Internet Privacy Be Enough to Prevent Cyberbullying?
• How Does Cyberbullying Affect Children?
• How Many American Teenagers Are Cyberbullied?
• How Does Cyberbullying Affect Mental Health?
• How Is Cyberbullying Different From Physical Bullying?
• Is Cyberbullying an Example of Psychological Abuse?
• Can School Policies Reduce Cyberbullying?
• How Does Cyberbullying Affect Teenagers’ Self-Esteem?
• What Are the Consequences of Cyberbullying?
• Has the Proliferation of Social Media Led to an Increase in Cyberbullying?
• Is Cyberbullying Less Criminal Than Traditional Bullying?
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Home / Parenting, Kids & Teens / What is cyberbullying and how can it be prevented?

What is cyberbullying and how can it be prevented?

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Bullying has blighted childhood and growing up since time began. Bullying can include mean words, teasing, spiteful pranks, the spreading of false rumors, name-calling, the taking of personal items, exclusion from social groups and events, graffiti scrawled on a locker, pushing and shoving, harassment, threats, and in its worst form, physical violence. Bullying is repetitive, not just a single act of aggression.

Kids who are bullied often withdraw socially, begin to underperform academically, feel anxious, sleep badly, and may eventually become depressed and feel trapped if the bullying goes on long enough.

As seen in the media, extreme bullying scenarios have resulted in a tragic and growing list of young people who take their own lives, at least in part to escape persistent bullying.

Most forms of in-person bullying now also take place online, potentially doubling a child’s exposure to bullying. Online, screen-based or technology-based bullying, which can happen across any medium where social interaction takes place, is called cyberbullying.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying involves actions like:

• Sharing photos or videos of people without consent to embarrass them, make them feel bad about themselves, or enact revenge for a friendship or relationship that has broken down.
• Name-calling, teasing, belittling, mocking or social exclusion.
• Spreading false rumors.
• Creating fake social media accounts in an individual’s name and posting outrageous statements about a peer to isolate, degrade and prank both people.
• Circulating a person’s private messages sent in confidence to a group for amusement and the power of violating privacy.
• Sharing a person’s videos sent in confidence with a chat group or a class to cause embarrassment and ridicule.
• Sending anonymous critical, harassing or threatening messages to people to damage their self-esteem, make them doubt that their friendship group cares for them or instill a sense of not being safe.
• Texting or direct-messaging explicit, unsolicited images, real, altered or fake.
• Leaking an individual’s personal information such as home address or phone number to peer groups to invade privacy and encourage personal attacks.
• Unsolicited forwarding to an individual hurtful or hateful comments that were made by a social peer to undermine confidence and cause conflict within a social group.
• Posting mocking or spiteful comments on an individual’s social media accounts both to cause upset and to encourage other followers, usually from the same school, to join in, triggering group cyberbullying.

While cyberbullying seems at first glance different from in-person bullying, [WNJ1]  experts see similarities.

“It’s the same sort of behavior,” says Bridget K. Biggs, Ph.D., L.P., a psychologist at Mayo Clinic. “Verbal aggression like name-calling, relational aggression like spreading rumors and trying to cut people out of relationships, and threatening or physical aggression — the effects are about the same, broadly speaking: lower mood, reduced self-esteem and anxiety, particularly social anxiety.”

Dr. Biggs underscores one key difference: unlike in-person bullying — unless it is caught on school security cameras — cyberbullying can be proved.

“Cyberbullying leaves a trail of indelible evidence, with the exception of disappearing message capabilities unless one can take a screenshot fast enough. But if a peer sends an unflattering or sexualized video or photo, that’s out in cyberspace forever. So there are positives and negatives to this permanence.”

What is the percentage of cyberbullying?

“The good news is that bullying overall, including cyberbullying, tends to decline after its prevalence peaks in mid-adolescence,” affirms Dr Biggs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cyberbullying is experienced by the highest percentage of kids in middle schools (33%) followed by high schools (30%) and primary schools (5%).

Among high school students in the U.S., 1 in 6 has been cyberbullied, compared with 1 in 5 who has been bullied in person. Furthermore, for children who identify as LGBTQ+, the Cyberbullying Research Center reports that 31% experience cyberbullying versus 21% of heterosexual students.

It’s no wonder that when Google surveyed U.S. teachers in 2019, bullying and cyberbullying headlined as their No. 1 concern.

What is the difference between cyberbullying and bullying?

Cyberbullying Facts: There are several ways that cyberbullying differs from in-person bullying:

What are the effects of cyberbullying?

If you were ever bullied at school, you’ll remember how quickly you felt shut out of life and how going into school each day was fraught with fear or a feeling of torture. Targets of cyberbullying are affected in much the same way as those bullied in person and can develop some or all of the following symptoms:

• Difficulties sleeping.
• Not wanting to go to school.
• Declining academic performance.
• Acting distracted at home.
• Reduced self-esteem.
• Feelings of not fitting in or belonging.

As the extent or longevity of bullying increase, it’s possible for more extreme reactions to occur, including:

• Self-harming behaviors such as cutting or burning.
• Depression.
• Thoughts of dropping out of school.
• Suicidal thoughts.
• Suicide attempts.

“With traditional face-to-face bullying,” says Dr. Biggs, “when you get home, you at least get a break from it. But if that social connection is also online, then you are still connected via cyberspace when you get home. Cyberspace therefore becomes just one more place to experience bullying.”

In a rare minority of cases, there have been tragic, high-profile stories of kids in the U.S. driven to suicide by cyberbullying. However, research on this subject by Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center is careful to underscore that suicide is always complex, with multifaceted drivers.

“There’s an increased risk for suicidality if a child is being bullied, yes,” Dr Biggs adds. “But note that of all the kids experiencing bullying, it’s a really small number who commit suicide. That’s important for parents to know.”

Why do people cyberbully?

As with in-person bullying, bullies court popularity and power and see bullying as a means to exert influence, control friendships, and dominate classrooms and playgrounds. In making others feel small, they feel bigger. There are often familial factors behind bullying and cyberbullying, and those can include witnessing verbal or physical aggression at home, which can lead to similar behavior socially or at school. With cyberbullying, if the bully has a high number of followers on social media, the validation of likes and shares for bullying behaviors can be intoxicating and signal a formula for popularity.

How to stop a child who is cyberbullying

• Explain what cyberbullying is, how it traumatizes others and its consequences.
• Set out what behaviors are unacceptable and explain that you will monitor behavior.
• Praise improved behaviors and set consequences, such as limiting gaming time, if your child cyberbullies again.
• Propose a meeting with administrators at your child’s school if behavior deteriorates.

Is cyberbullying illegal?

Strictly speaking, no. But if cyberbullying touches on laws around stalking, criminal online harassment or sexting that involves third-party possession or wider distribution of nude photos of minors, then authorities can be engaged. And if cyberbullying — as with in-person bullying — leads to a physical attack on the victim, then assault charges may become valid. Relative to state and federal law, schools can intervene when bullying of a student is taking place by another student or group of students, though according to Pew Research Center, only 34% of parents whose child is being cyberbullied report it to the child’s school.

How can parents prevent cyberbullying?

One can’t prevent cyberbullying. After all, it’s impossible to live screen-free in our world today. But Dr. Biggs does advocate parents helping their child divert focus toward building a healthy social circle.

“The effects of being bullied are mitigated when people have strong social support,” she explains. “Even one good-quality friendship can make a difference. If a child has this, then the child may feel able to say ‘That’s a chat group I don’t want to be part of.’ Parents can support their kids by encouraging the fostering of friendships and activities that are positive. You can even ask: ”Who do you want to surround yourself with?’ That’s a very positive coping strategy, surrounding yourself with good people.”

As well as encouraging positive friendships, parents can also help clarify context.

“With cyberbullying,” Dr Biggs says, “if children show you a message that upsets them, which the cyberbully is calling a joke, you might say something like, ‘Well I didn’t find that very funny — I suggest you shrug it off and don’t engage, because this person just wants to pull you in.’ “

Dr. Biggs, a mother of two herself, sees conversations about cyberbullying as just another part of teaching children about online safety.

“Start having conversations about safe behaviors online as soon as your kid begins using technology. That shouldn’t be one conversation; it should be ongoing. You need to talk about phishing, scamming, people who may say they’re somebody but they’re actually somebody else and what information is safe to provide. And you should warn that there are people who do mean things online who might also do mean things in person. If kids already have that awareness, then when it happens, they can think, ‘I remember, a safe adult told me about that and predicted that this is something that could happen.’ “

Overall, though, Dr Biggs advises a delicate balance of supervision and distance.

“Not helicopter parenting and not letting them fly the helicopter,” she says. “Kids are more likely to use the internet safely and positively when their parents pay attention to what they are doing, provide guidance and set limits around use — but also allow some choice, input and autonomous decision-making, all while keeping the lines of communication open between themselves and their kids. It seems that providing some education about the benefits and dangers of the internet — including the possibility of aggression occurring in digital platforms — is beneficial. As with other responsibilities, it makes sense to ease restrictions and allow greater autonomy and choice as kids get older and as they demonstrate their ability to use the resource responsibly.”

How kids can limit their exposure to cyberbullying

• Never respond unless a parent encourages you to assert a clear boundary and take a screenshot of your request — for example, “Please stop saying these things to me,” “I don’t want you to treat me this way” — so it can be used as evidence of online harassment, if needed.
• Take a screenshot of all hostilities to establish a record of evidence.
• Show a parent the messages or comments and talk it over.
• Block and report cyberbullies on social media if doing so won’t inflame an already difficult situation.
• If your parents agree, arrange a discrete meeting with a teacher.
• Use privacy settings to protect personal posts on social media from being accessed by strangers.
• Wait for at least 60 minutes before acting on an impulse to share sensitive photos, videos or information with a peer.
• Have designated digital-free time each day .

The future of cyberbullying

Because it is next to impossible to live in a device-free world while growing up nowadays, parents may fear that nothing can stop their child being cyberbullied. However, Dr. Biggs cites one effective peer-to-peer method that does work: upstanding.

“Upstanding is when witnesses speak up and communicate that aggression is not acceptable and that treating others with respect is socially desirable or ‘cool,’ ” Dr Biggs says. “That does reduce bullying.”

There are also small poignant ways parents can reduce bullying of any type though, as Dr Biggs concludes:

“I heard of a parent responding to news that her child had been bullying another child on the bus. She told her son that she had heard that bullying had been happening — without indicating that she knew who was doing it — and asked him to look out for the child, as she knew that child to be a kind and responsible person. The bullying stopped.”

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Cyber Bullying — Causes and Effects of Cyber Bullying

Cause and Effect of Cyber Bullying

• Categories: Cyber Bullying Digital Era Internet

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Words: 883 |

Published: Jul 15, 2020

Words: 883 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, causes of cyberbullying (essay), effects to the victims, works cited:.

• Brooks, D. (2011). Amy Chua is a Wimp. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/opinion/18brooks.html
• Chua, A. (2011). Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. The Penguin Press.
• Child of Tiger Mom Speaks Out [Video]. (2011, January 18). YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU6o4vV5Dm0
• Gross-Loh, C. (2014). Parenting in America vs. Parenting in Other Countries: What Makes Chinese Moms So Different. Slate.
• Hogan, L. (2012). The Tiger Mom Meets A Western Dad. NPR.
• Kohn, A. (2012). The truth about the Tiger Mother's family. Salon.
• Lee, J. (2015). Chinese parents vs. Western parents: Why Chinese mothers are superior. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/03/opinions/china-western-parenting/index.html
• Lin, J. (2014). Cultural differences in parenting practices: What Asian American families can teach us. The Science of Psychotherapy.
• Tong, R. (2012). From Tiger Mothers to Dragon Ladies: East Asian Women, Symbolic Ethnicity, and Politics. Asian Ethnicity, 13(2), 139–158. doi: 10.1080/14631369.2012.670594
• Wang, S. (2018). Parenting Styles: A Comparison of Chinese and American Parents. Master’s thesis, University of Tennessee.

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Cyberbullying and the Limits of Free Speech

Jamison chung , aaron kaufman , and brianna rauenzahn.

Schools and policymakers confront balancing the protection of cyberbullying victims with free speech.

Bullying poses a pervasive threat to students in primary and secondary schools. This aggressive behavior , which involves a power imbalance between the bully and the victim, can have serious mental, social, and physical health consequences. For example, victims of bullying are at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression. In severe cases, bullying is even associated with suicidal ideation in victims. Victims of cyberbullying in particular have a higher likelihood of self-harm.

Cyberbullying is bullying through the use of digital devices such as computers and smartphones. Unlike other forms of bullying, the online nature of cyberbullying permits attacks at any time, creates a permanent online record that can impact victims for years, and can be difficult for parents and schools to notice . As internet-based communication continues to rise, the prevalence of cyberbullying is expected to increase .

Currently, no federal laws directly address bullying of any kind. State laws, however, protect individuals against bullying in all 50 states, many of which specifically grapple with the issue of cyberbullying. Despite the existence of state laws, the National Center for Education Statistics reported an increase in cyberbullying in recent years. Cyberbullying often takes place off school grounds and is typically limited to speech, which is more difficult for schools to regulate effectively.

This week’s Saturday Seminar focuses on the challenges associated with legal strategies to address cyberbullying in primary and secondary schools.

• The development of the internet brought massive technological advancements but upset the delicate balance between freedom of speech and freedom from harm, Qasim Rashid writes in the Stetson Law Review . He traces the history of free speech in the United States and how U.S. Supreme Court decisions on hate speech and obscenity restrictions have shaped the current framework for cyberbullying legislation. He argues that physical proximity is an outdated method to assess the harms from free speech and proposes legislative modifications that would criminalize certain intentional online statements “that result in foreseeable proximate harm.” He suggests that these changes could help bridge the gap between America’s “dangerously archaic” free speech model and the realities of the internet.
• Cyberbullying can create a serious threat to the health and safety of victims, Philip Lee of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law argues in an article in the Utah Law Review . In fact, cyberbullying is so dangerous that it justifies reduced First Amendment free speech protections to aid primary and secondary schools that seek to prevent it, Lee writes . Schools have some flexibility in regulating speech on school grounds, but Lee notes that cyberbullies can target their classmates off school property with increasing ease. To regulate cyberbullying more effectively without giving schools unlimited power to limit students’ free speech, Lee advocates the use of a “foreseeability approach,” which allows schools to regulate speech “if it is reasonably foreseeable that the off-campus speech will reach campus.”
• Most state anti-bullying laws do not allow schools to address fully the complexities of cyberbullying, writes Emily Suski of the University of South Carolina School of Law in the Louisiana Law Review . Although bullying is associated with significant emotional and physical ramifications for victims, many state laws only give schools the power to suspend, expel, or exclude bullies from school, Suski observes . By analyzing cases from the Supreme Court that address student speech and the First Amendment, Suski concludes that the Court’s student speech jurisprudence highlights the inadequacies of current anti-bullying laws but also provides a framework that offers schools more freedom to suppress bullying in the form of speech.
• In an article published in the Akron Law Review , University of Illinois College of Media’s Benjamin Holden notes that courts are split over whether schools have authority to punish cyber-speech, even when it causes a disruption to the learning environment. In addition, the constitutional right to anonymity makes it difficult for minor victims of online bullying to seek legal redress outside of the school system, he explains . Holden proposes a new legal test for revealing the identity of cyberbullies who target minors with “school-related harassment.” If the victim can show that anonymous cyberbullies could be disciplined under applicable law if their identities were known, Holden argues that a court should be able to force an internet service provider to reveal the bullies’ identities.
• In an essay published in the Cornell Law Review , Northeastern University School of Law’s Ari Ezra Waldman concludes that anti-bullying laws alone cannot significantly reduce “bullying, cyberbullying, and suicidal thoughts among” LGBTQ teenagers. He finds that state laws that ban discrimination and promote LGBTQ inclusion more effectively reduce LGBTQ bullying in schools more than anti-bullying laws. Waldman suggests that existing anti-bullying laws are only “one part of a larger socio-legal approach to combating bullying in schools and online.” To reduce bullying, he recommends implementing state laws that protect the equality of LGBTQ individuals.
• Pervasive internet access and the rise of social media use among schoolchildren have led to an increase in suicides attributed to cyberbullying, according to Ronen Perry of the University of Haifa in a forthcoming UC Irvine Law Review article . He analyzes how school administrators are limited in their ability to regulate students’ online conduct both on and off campus by constitutional constraints and federal legislation such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act . He proposes that increasing civil liability for education supervisors, when paired with technological advancements that allow supervisors to collect and analyze digital information, is an underused regulatory tool that could help address the cyberbullying epidemic in schools and help reduce teen suicide.

The Saturday Seminar is a weekly feature that aims to put into written form the kind of content that would be conveyed in a live seminar involving regulatory experts. Each week,  The Regulatory Review  publishes a brief overview of a selected regulatory topic and then distills recent research and scholarly writing on that topic.

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Cyberbullying: Everything You Need to Know

• Cyberbullying
• How to Respond

Cyberbullying is the act of intentionally and consistently mistreating or harassing someone through the use of electronic devices or other forms of electronic communication (like social media platforms).

Because cyberbullying mainly affects children and adolescents, many brush it off as a part of growing up. However, cyberbullying can have dire mental and emotional consequences if left unaddressed.

This article discusses cyberbullying, its adverse effects, and what can be done about it.

FangXiaNuo / Getty Images

Cyberbullying Statistics and State Laws

The rise of digital communication methods has paved the way for a new type of bullying to form, one that takes place outside of the schoolyard. Cyberbullying follows kids home, making it much more difficult to ignore or cope.

Statistics 

As many as 15% of young people between 12 and 18 have been cyberbullied at some point. However, over 25% of children between 13 and 15 were cyberbullied in one year alone.

About 6.2% of people admitted that they’ve engaged in cyberbullying at some point in the last year. The age at which a person is most likely to cyberbully one of their peers is 13.

Those subject to online bullying are twice as likely to self-harm or attempt suicide . The percentage is much higher in young people who identify as LGBTQ, at 56%.

Cyberbullying by Sex and Sexual Orientation

Cyberbullying statistics differ among various groups, including:

• Girls and boys reported similar numbers when asked if they have been cyberbullied, at 23.7% and 21.9%, respectively.
• LGBTQ adolescents report cyberbullying at higher rates, at 31.7%. Up to 56% of young people who identify as LGBTQ have experienced cyberbullying.
• Transgender teens were the most likely to be cyberbullied, at a significantly high rate of 35.4%.

State Laws 

The laws surrounding cyberbullying vary from state to state. However, all 50 states have developed and implemented specific policies or laws to protect children from being cyberbullied in and out of the classroom.

The laws were put into place so that students who are being cyberbullied at school can have access to support systems, and those who are being cyberbullied at home have a way to report the incidents.

Legal policies or programs developed to help stop cyberbullying include:

• Bullying prevention programs
• Cyberbullying education courses for teachers
• Procedures designed to investigate instances of cyberbullying
• Support systems for children who have been subject to cyberbullying 

Are There Federal Laws Against Cyberbullying?

There are no federal laws or policies that protect people from cyberbullying. However, federal involvement may occur if the bullying overlaps with harassment. Federal law will get involved if the bullying concerns a person’s race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion.

Examples of Cyberbullying 

There are several types of bullying that can occur online, and they all look different.

Harassment can include comments, text messages, or threatening emails designed to make the cyberbullied person feel scared, embarrassed, or ashamed of themselves.

Other forms of harassment include:

• Using group chats as a way to gang up on one person
• Making derogatory comments about a person based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, or other characteristics
• Posting mean or untrue things on social media sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, as a way to publicly hurt the person experiencing the cyberbullying  

Impersonation

A person may try to pretend to be the person they are cyberbullying to attempt to embarrass, shame, or hurt them publicly. Some examples of this include:

• Hacking into someone’s online profile and changing any part of it, whether it be a photo or their "About Me" portion, to something that is either harmful or inappropriate
• Catfishing, which is when a person creates a fake persona to trick someone into a relationship with them as a joke or for their own personal gain
• Making a fake profile using the screen name of their target to post inappropriate or rude remarks on other people’s pages

Other Examples

Not all forms of cyberbullying are the same, and cyberbullies use other tactics to ensure that their target feels as bad as possible. Some tactics include:

• Taking nude or otherwise degrading photos of a person without their consent
• Sharing or posting nude pictures with a wide audience to embarrass the person they are cyberbullying
• Sharing personal information about a person on a public website that could cause them to feel unsafe
• Physically bullying someone in school and getting someone else to record it so that it can be watched and passed around later
• Circulating rumors about a person

How to Know When a Joke Turns Into Cyberbullying

People may often try to downplay cyberbullying by saying it was just a joke. However, any incident that continues to make a person feel shame, hurt, or blatantly disrespected is not a joke and should be addressed. People who engage in cyberbullying tactics know that they’ve crossed these boundaries, from being playful to being harmful.

Effects and Consequences of Cyberbullying 

Research shows many negative effects of cyberbullying, some of which can lead to severe mental health issues. Cyberbullied people are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts, actions, or behaviors and engage in self-harm as those who are not.

Other negative health consequences of cyberbullying are:

• Stomach pain and digestive issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Difficulties with academics
• Violent behaviors
• High levels of stress
• Inability to feel safe
• Feelings of loneliness and isolation
• Feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness

If You’ve Been Cyberbullied 

Being on the receiving end of cyberbullying is hard to cope with. It can feel like you have nowhere to turn and no escape. However, some things can be done to help overcome cyberbullying experiences.

Advice for Preteens and Teenagers

The best thing you can do if you’re being cyberbullied is tell an adult you trust. It may be challenging to start the conversation because you may feel ashamed or embarrassed. However, if it is not addressed, it can get worse.

Other ways you can cope with cyberbullying include:

• Walk away : Walking away online involves ignoring the bullies, stepping back from your computer or phone, and finding something you enjoy doing to distract yourself from the bullying.
• Don’t retaliate : You may want to defend yourself at the time. But engaging with the bullies can make matters worse.
• Keep evidence : Save all copies of the cyberbullying, whether it be posts, texts, or emails, and keep them if the bullying escalates and you need to report them.
• Report : Social media sites take harassment seriously, and reporting them to site administrators may block the bully from using the site.
• Block : You can block your bully from contacting you on social media platforms and through text messages.

In some cases, therapy may be a good option to help cope with the aftermath of cyberbullying.

Advice for Parents

As a parent, watching your child experience cyberbullying can be difficult. To help in the right ways, you can:

• Offer support and comfort : Listening to your child explain what's happening can be helpful. If you've experienced bullying as a child, sharing that experience may provide some perspective on how it can be overcome and that the feelings don't last forever.
• Make sure they know they are not at fault : Whatever the bully uses to target your child can make them feel like something is wrong with them. Offer praise to your child for speaking up and reassure them that it's not their fault.
• Contact the school : Schools have policies to protect children from bullying, but to help, you have to inform school officials.
• Keep records : Ask your child for all the records of the bullying and keep a copy for yourself. This evidence will be helpful to have if the bullying escalates and further action needs to be taken.
• Try to get them help : In many cases, cyberbullying can lead to mental stress and sometimes mental health disorders. Getting your child a therapist gives them a safe place to work through their experience.

In the Workplace 

Although cyberbullying more often affects children and adolescents, it can also happen to adults in the workplace. If you are dealing with cyberbullying at your workplace, you can:

• Let your bully know how what they said affected you and that you expect it to stop.
• Keep copies of any harassment that goes on in the workplace.
• Report your cyberbully to your human resources (HR) department.
• Report your cyberbully to law enforcement if you are being threatened.
• Close off all personal communication pathways with your cyberbully.
• Maintain a professional attitude at work regardless of what is being said or done.
• Seek out support through friends, family, or professional help.

Effective Action Against Cyberbullying

If cyberbullying continues, actions will have to be taken to get it to stop, such as:

• Talking to a school official : Talking to someone at school may be difficult, but once you do, you may be grateful that you have some support. Schools have policies to address cyberbullying.
• Confide in parents or trusted friends : Discuss your experience with your parents or others you trust. Having support on your side will make you feel less alone.
• Report it on social media : Social media sites have strict rules on the types of interactions and content sharing allowed. Report your aggressor to the site to get them banned and eliminate their ability to contact you.
• Block the bully : Phones, computers, and social media platforms contain options to block correspondence from others. Use these blocking tools to help free yourself from cyberbullying.

Help Is Available

If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial  988  to contact the  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline  and connect with a trained counselor. To find mental health resources in your area, contact the  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline  at  800-662-4357  for information.

Cyberbullying occurs over electronic communication methods like cell phones, computers, social media, and other online platforms. While anyone can be subject to cyberbullying, it is most likely to occur between the ages of 12 and 18.

Cyberbullying can be severe and lead to serious health issues, such as new or worsened mental health disorders, sleep issues, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm. There are laws to prevent cyberbullying, so it's essential to report it when it happens. Coping strategies include stepping away from electronics, blocking bullies, and getting.

Alhajji M, Bass S, Dai T. Cyberbullying, mental health, and violence in adolescents and associations with sex and race: data from the 2015 youth risk behavior survey . Glob Pediatr Health. 2019;6:2333794X19868887. doi:10.1177/2333794X19868887

Cyberbullying Research Center. Cyberbullying in 2021 by age, gender, sexual orientation, and race .

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: StopBullying.gov. Facts about bullying .

John A, Glendenning AC, Marchant A, et al. Self-harm, suicidal behaviours, and cyberbullying in children and young people: systematic review .  J Med Internet Res . 2018;20(4):e129. doi:10.2196/jmir.9044

Cyberbullying Research Center. Bullying, cyberbullying, and LGBTQ students .

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: StopBullying.gov. Laws, policies, and regulations .

Wolke D, Lee K, Guy A. Cyberbullying: a storm in a teacup? . Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017;26(8):899-908. doi:10.1007/s00787-017-0954-6

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: StopBullying.gov. Cyberbullying tactics .

Garett R, Lord LR, Young SD. Associations between social media and cyberbullying: a review of the literature . mHealth . 2016;2:46-46. doi:10.21037/mhealth.2016.12.01

Nemours Teens Health. Cyberbullying .

Nixon CL. Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health . Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2014;5:143-58. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S36456

Nemours Kids Health. Cyberbullying (for parents) .

By Angelica Bottaro Bottaro has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and an Advanced Diploma in Journalism. She is based in Canada.

Teacher Tips: How to Discuss Cyberbullying in a Safe Environment

Heng Yan Lin

Within the past two years, we have seen sharp demand for virtual learning as the world grapples with the pandemic. The increase in screen time both during and after school hours has exacerbated a growing mental health crisis and cases of cyberbullying among teenagers.

Cyberspace is a convenient place for students to vent their feelings, release their stresses and get into debates as it provides them with anonymity and an accompanying false sense of security. Then there is the fact that policing cyberspace for hate speech, name-calling, harassment, doxing, impersonation, and more is virtually impossible on certain online platforms.

Under the direction of the Ministry of Education in Singapore, local schools are tasked to address this growing problem. Teachers who are the first line of contact for the students may be called upon to discuss cyberbullying issues with the class. Getting students to discuss mental health topics openly can be challenging, especially when valid concerns exist. For instance, students may be worried that they will attract unnecessary and negative attention from others or feel the class is not a safe environment to talk about such issues. In addition, mental health talks can be dry and boring for some.

Discussing Cyberbullying

In this blog, you will find 4 simple activities using ClassPoint that you can use in class to fully engage your students in conversation about cyberbullying.

Survey the Class

It is always helpful to survey the class to understand how much students know about cyberbullying. This will provide a good opening and help you determine the pace of the lesson. Use a Multiple Choice activity that allows them to choose one of the following answers. Do make sure to qualify what ‘good understanding’ means. For example, you could say that having a good understanding of the subject means that you know when cyberbullying is taking place and what you can do to stop it.

For these exercises, I used ClassPoint’s interactive PowerPoint quiz questions to conduct these in-class activities. With ClassPoint, you can add the questions into your already-made PowerPoint and have students answer the questions using their devices live, during class. If you don’t use Microsoft PowerPoint or ClassPoint, you can audibly ask your students these questions, use a different tool, or use a pen and paper.

Invite Participation

Begin with some neutral activities that would avoid making anyone feel vulnerable while participating. A neutral activity, for example, would be to ask the students the question above. Note that the question has been intentionally phrased as “that you know or heard of ” instead of “ that you have received ” as this depersonalizes the question and creates a sense of safety.

Using ClassPoint’s Short Answer tool actually allows you to hide students’ names. Answering with hidden identities can encourage participation and enables students to construct knowledge collectively. Deepen the discussion in class by leveraging on students’ responses; start a spontaneous discussion about why a certain statement is perceived as a cyberbullying message.

Many people are not always aware of what is considered cyberbullying or that there are five to eleven types of cyberbullying behaviors. Instead of simply telling them about it, why not make it fun and have a quiz? ClassPoint’s Slide Drawing feature allows them to circle or highlight their answers which can then be shared with the class.

If students don’t have devices, again this can be done on the worksheet, or you can write a list of behaviors on your whiteboard before class and have students circle their answers as a class.

Teaching students to develop perspective-talking skills is important as it can help them to develop empathy for the victims. This is done by moving them from the cognitive domain to the emotional domain through open-ended questions about feelings.

In the cyberbullying lesson, you can use Word Cloud to ask them the following question: 

Using their answers, you can easily transit into a lesson or discussion about how victims suffer from negative feelings that if left unchecked, will make them more vulnerable to developing certain unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. When prolonged, this puts them at a higher risk of developing mental health issues.

Research has found that cyberbullies sometimes lack the awareness that they are hurting someone by something they said. For example, some name-calling language might be something that the bully is accustomed to and grew up with and therefore does not see anything wrong in saying it to a stranger in an online game chat. 

However, the person who receives this may be hurt by it because he/she may happen to be struggling with low self-image and low self-esteem. Through further dialogue, you would want to draw their attention to how certain messages and behaviors (cite examples from Activity 2) can be perceived as hurtful and offensive.

Finding Out More

Mental health lessons are good opportunities for you to identify students who may be in need of help. This can be done via a Multiple Choice Activity where carefully curated questions are posed to the class without a need to publish the answer.  Below is a sample of one question that you can ask:

Discussing cyberbullying is important for students, teachers, and schools as education continues to adopt technology and as young students face the repercussions including their mental health and self-esteem when using the internet.

I hope you have seen how these interactive and engaging questions can uncomplicate the subject matter and allow you to navigate any mental health topic with ease. And by using ClassPoint, you can directly engage with every single student during your lesson and help ease into vulnerable discussions with anonymous Q&As. Learn more about using ClassPoint here.

Remember that the key is to create a safe and comfortable online environment by ensuring that students’ identities and stories are not exposed, whilst providing them with a space to seek help and ask questions.

About Heng Yan Lin

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Cyber Bullying Persuasive Essay [with Annotated Bibliography Example]

Cyberbullying refers to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) by an individual or group of individuals to cause harm to another individual or group of individuals intentionally or deliberately. Scherer (2011, p. 8) also defines cyberbullying as an act of using the internet and related technologies to haunt, harass, annoy, or cause harm to other people intentionally or knowingly in a repetitive and intimidating manner. Cyberbullying usually involves acts that aim at intimidating an individual or group of persons by causing psychological, mental, or emotional and social harm by threatening the reputation and safety of the individual or group of individuals (Gerdes 2012, p. 21).

An act or activity is classified as a cyberbullying if it involves the use of information and communication technologies such as the internet, mobile phones, and computers in a repetitive manner to hurt or cause considerable psychological, mental, or social harm such as defamation, insult, and denigration to another person intentionally. Cyberbullying is more prevalent among children owing to their increased access to and use of communication technologies. Raatma (2013, p. 35) also affirms that cyberbullying is more common among young people, who use the internet more frequently, than among adults, who rarely use the internet and related technologies.

Cyberbullying usually occurs in major public forums and chat rooms, online information sites, and social media and networking sites such as Facebook, Badoo, MySpace, and Twitter. According to Katz (2012, p. 19), a cyber-bully is the person targeting another individual through mischievous activities. The cyber-bully may be known to the victim or be an online stranger.

Forms of Cyberbullying

According to Beane (2008, page 71), cyberbullying ranges from simple activities like sending text messages or emails to a person who has requested for limited contacts with the sender to complex activities like hacking into one’s online account or vandalizing one’s online site. The most common forms of cyberbullying include:

• harassment;
• cyber-stalking;
• denigration;
• impersonation;

Harassment refers to a variety of behaviors or activities that are considered offensive by the victims and are intended to annoy, humiliate, or intimidate an individual. Most harassments aim at disturbing the victim. Cyber-stalking refers to the act of using the internet to trail, track, or pursue an individual through close monitoring. Denigration is the act of sending, posting, or spreading false information and malicious rumors and gossips about an individual or group of individuals through information and communication technologies in order to harm or damage his or their reputations as well as relationships with other people.

Impersonation refers to the act of imitating or mimicking the conducts, attributes, and actions of another person through pretense. Online impersonation involves the creation of fake accounts using the victim’s names without his/her permission and pretending to be the victim. It also includes stealing usernames and passwords of accounts of the victim and communicating with other people in the pretense of the victim.

In the context of cyberbullying, exclusion refers to the act of eliminating or excluding a person from certain forums or prohibiting them from participating in online public forums. Kearney (2011, p. 7) defines exclusion as the process of not accepting an individual or a group of individuals in an online group or prohibiting them to join and actively participate in the activities of the group. McElearney, Roosmale-Cosq, and Stephenson (2008, p. 114) also assert that cyberbullying includes activities that aim at reducing or limiting the active participation of an individual in such online activities such as discussions. Online exclusion is a form of social discrimination (Allman 2009, p. 192).

Other forms of cyberbullying include sending viruses to computers of the victims, use of pseudonyms or nicknames to harass other people and flaming. Cyberbullying also entails mobilizing people against an individual; for example, racists may mobile people against certain communities. Unauthorized disclosure of personal information such as real names, marital status, place of residence, and employment status of a person without his permission also amounts to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying also involves posting indecent images of an individual into the internet with the intention of damaging the reputation or character of the individual.

Cases and Incidences of Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is more prevalent among school-going children and teens, for example, Smith and Mississippi State University (2010, p. 106) estimate that more than seven thousand five hundred students are bullied in Australia every year. In the United States of America, cyberbullying is prevalent among children aged between seven and twelve years (9%) and among teens aged between fourteen and eighteen years (12%) (Hinduja & Patchin 2009, p. 227). The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics also revealed that seven percent of students in grades six to twelve were cyberbullied between 2008 and 2009 (Rogers 2010, p. 151).

Recent cases and incidences of cyberbullying in the United States of America include the suicidal death of Ryan Halligan and Megan Meier as a result of cyberbullying (Nelson 2013, page 240). The Cyberbullying Research Center also reported that nearly fifty teenagers committed suicide in 2009 as a result of harassment and maltreatment over the internet (Rogers 2010, page 157). In late 2011, the National Crime Prevention Council reported that cyberbullying is a serious social problem that affects more than half of all teenagers in the U.S. (Gerdes 2012, p. 29).

Penalties and Laws against Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is relatively new and is currently covered with existing laws against personal threats and harassment (Raatma 2013, p. 41). There are no specific penalties that have been established for cyberbullying. It is treated like other forms of crimes, and punishments may vary from fines to imprisonment.

Despite being a new form of crime, various laws and legislations have been formed to fight, reduce, and control cyberbullying. Many countries across the globe have enacted laws that clearly define the various forms of cyberbullying. For example, Assembly Bill 86 2008 was established by legislators in California state to help fight to cyberbully by authorizing administrators of schools to punish and discipline students who bully their colleagues both online and offline.

According to Allman (2009, p. 209), a majority of states in the U.S. have also established special cyber-crime units within their law enforcement agencies to handle cases of cyberbullying with great seriousness. Nelson (2013, p. 248) also affirms that reported cases of cyberbullying are treated with greater concern than physical bullying due to the increase in the number of victims of cyberbullying. According to Kowalski, Limber, and Agatston (2012, p. 249), currently, there are nearly forty-five laws prohibiting cyberbullying in the United States of America.

For instance, Title 18 of the United States Code also criminalizes sending threats to individuals through the internet. In the United States of America, federal laws prohibiting cyberbullying allows for prosecution of people who use electronic communication devices to bully others. Specific laws have also been established to protect children and persons aged below eighteen years from cyberbullying. Moreover, adults are also protected from serious forms of cyberbullying such as cyberstalking and exclusion that are based on differences in political ideologies. Laws that prohibit sending insulting text messages and emails to individuals, as well as posting of defamatory information on online public forums, social media, and networking sites that may harm individuals, have also been established.

What Is Being Done To Stop Cyberbullying

A number of initiatives have been established to help fight cyberbullying. In the U.S., a majority of states have established cyber-crime units to help fight to cyberbully. Numerous legislations and laws defining what amounts to cyberbullying, prohibiting cyberbullying, and aiming at effective prevention, control, and management of cyberbullying have also been enacted. For example, Smith and Mississippi State University (2010, p. 114) estimate that more than fifteen legislations were formulated between 2006 and 2009 by the U.S. Senate to fight against cybercrimes.

The anti-cyberbullying campaigns have also been instituted to fight against cyberbullying and to create social awareness about this vice. Moreover, both the federal and state governments have also mobilized and made available resources, such as funds, that would facilitate the fight against cyberbullying. A number of resources, such as reading materials, have also been made available to the public to enable people to deal with incidences of cyberbullying legally and effectively.

Innovations have also been used to fight cyberbullying. For example, a group of teenagers called Connecticut in New Haven developed a web application that is known as “Back off Bully”, which is used for fighting to cyberbully. Victims or witnesses of cyberbullying can use the web application in their computers and smartphones to report incidents of cyberbullying by giving details of the time, location, and how the bullying incurred. Similarly, the Global Cyber Law Database (GCLD), an online database, has also been created to make available laws that prohibit cyberbullying to assist victims of cyberbullying in the United States of America. Information on the GCLD can also be accessed and used by other countries outside the U.S. Victims of cyberbullying are also encouraged to report incidences of cyberbullying to the relevant authorities such as the police immediately after the situation occur.

Cyber Bullying Statistics

• 37% of teenagers have experienced cyberbullying, and 30% of them have experienced it multiple times (Pew Research Center, 2018).
• Girls are more likely to experience cyberbullying than boys (41% vs. 28%) (Pew Research Center, 2018).
• Approximately 70% of students report witnessing cyberbullying (National Center for Education Statistics, 2018).
• Cyberbullying victims are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety (Hinduja & Patchin, 2018).
• 64% of teenagers who have been cyberbullied reported that it negatively affected their ability to learn and feel safe at school (National Center for Education Statistics, 2018).
• Cyberbullying victims are twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who have not experienced cyberbullying (Hinduja & Patchin, 2018).
• Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyberbullying (National Crime Prevention Council, 2018).
• 22% of teenagers have shared personal information online, including contact information and photos, with someone they have never met in person (Pew Research Center, 2018).
• Nearly one in five young people have experienced some form of online sexual harassment, including sending or receiving explicit messages, images or videos (The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 2021).
• Cyberbullying can have long-lasting effects, with victims experiencing negative impacts for years after the initial incident (Patchin & Hinduja, 2019).
• Pew Research Center. (2018). Teens, social media & technology.
• National Center for Education Statistics. (2018). Student reports of bullying: Results from the 2017 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey.
• Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2018). Cyberbullying fact sheet: Common myths and facts. Cyberbullying Research Center.
• National Crime Prevention Council. (2018). Cyberbullying: How to stop it.
• The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (2021). Harassment of young people online.
• Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2019). Cyberbullying: Identification, prevention, and response. CRC Press.

Cyber Bullying Persuasive Essay Conclusion

Cyberbullying is a serious crime that is constantly increasing. Moreover, controlling and managing cyber bullying is becoming increasingly difficult due to rapid technological advancements. Therefore, appropriate techniques, such as awareness campaigns and community policing, should be developed to help fight against cyberbullying. In addition, more legislation should be enacted to help in protecting children against cyberbullying. Internet Service Providers should also regulate the content of websites they host to help reduce cyberbullying and track down cyber bullies.

Free Annotated Bibliography Example

• Aftab, P. (2010).

The article uncovers the nature of cyberbullying, its causes, ways of prevention, and related laws. It provides information about the most affected age groups, different methods of cyberbullying, and kinds of cyberbullies. The author thoroughly analyzes different types of a cyberbully, and suggests possible solutions to deal with each of them. The target audience of the article is parents, children, law enforcement authorities, and school officials. The source provides valuable and helpful information as it answers the questions of why children cyberbully each other. Moreover, it mentions the role of school, parents, and law enforcement in cyberbullying prevention and elimination.

• Belnap, A. (2011).

The article suggests a bias related to the prohibition of allowing public school regulation if the cases do not presuppose the use of school technology. It investigates the regulations of cyberbullying and makes an emphasis on the students’ right to free speech. The target audience of the article includes parents, teachers, and schoolchildren. Also, it would be interesting to the people who deal with free speech in schools. I recommend the source as it is reliable and provides evident arguments.

• Cowie, H., and Colliety, P. (2010).

The article addresses victims of cyberbullying and gives them advice. Also, it provides examples of cyberbullying and people involved in it. The authors present and analyze statistics that reveal the percentage of students who are cyberbullied. The main idea of the paper is that cyberbullying should be taken seriously and should not be neglected by parents. The target audience includes parents, officials, and people involved in combating cyberbullying. The paper contains valuable information as it presents real-life stories and discusses the ways of addressing the problem.

• Dooley, J.J., Pyzalski, J., & Cross, D. (2009).

The article provides a definition of cyberbullying. It refers to the notion as aggressive behavior through electronic media. The authors study and analyze the reasons for cyberbullying repetitions, power imbalances, and its impact on a victim. Also, they compare cyberbullying with face-to-face bullying to find out which one is more harmful. The authors emphasize the need for further research to clarify the issue and prevent cyberbullying. Moreover, they focus on the social and psychological differences between bullying and cyber bullying. The target audience of the article is children, parents, and responsible officials. The source is helpful as it covers the topic of my research and provides reliable data.

• Fritsch, E.J. and Stewart, D.M. (2011).

The article discusses the issue of cyberbullying and related school and law enforcement. The paper investigates the use of technology and its use by the modern generation. It also covers different innovations in the modern world. The authors speak about the benefits and drawbacks of technology use. They want to eliminate cybercrime and think about the ways of combating it. The target audience is teachers, students, and officials. The source is informative as it makes a reader aware of the current laws that enable schools to interfere in cyberbullying.

• Hinduja, S., and Patchin, J. W. (2010).

The paper also addresses the issues of bullying and cyberbullying. It makes an emphasis on the fact that these problems may lead to suicide. Also, the research investigates the number of children and youth involved in cyberbullying and bullying and the effects of these actions. The most common ones are depressions, anxiety, and suicide. The target audience of the article includes children, parents, and officials. The paper is directly related to the topic of my research and contains helpful information concerning online attacks.

• Lane, D.K. (2011).

The author emphasizes the First Amendment Right and argues that schools should be responsible for cyberbullying. The paper suggests ways of dealing with cyber speech and cyberbullying related to teachers. The target audience includes school officials and parents. The article is useful as it is directly related to the topic of my research.

• Li, Q. (2008).

The article covers the issue of bullying experiences in cyberspace. It addresses the people who are making attempts to create anti-bullying software. The author states that this is a problem that affects millions of young people. Also, it may be referred to as a public health problem. Nowadays, more and more people use technology in their everyday lives. Therefore, they become exposed to an increased risk of cyberbullying. This type of bullying is common in schools. The target audience of the article includes parents, children, and active users of modern technology tools. The source is helpful as it presents the results of the online survey.

• Long, C. (2008).

The paper suggests the idea that it is difficult to understand the nature of cyberbullying, its aim, and reasons. Also, people around the globe should unite their efforts to combat this problem and prevent negative outcomes. The central figure of the article is Ryan Halligan, who was bullied. The 13 years old boy could not bear bullying and committed suicide. The author tells that the boy’s father is doing his best to prevent this crime among other children. The target audience of the paper is children, parents, and educators. The source is helpful and valuable as it provides a real-life example and suggests ways of preventing this cybercrime.

• Snakenborg, J., Van Acker, R., & Gable, R.A. (2011).

The article investigated the ways of cyberbullying presentation and possible interventions that can protect children. The authors analyze different types of technology and how they can be used to cyberbully others. The target audience would be children, parents, and principals. This source is valuable as it provides a deep outlook into the education options that can be effectively implemented instead of ruling.

• Wheeler, T. (2011).

The author speaks about the danger of social networking, namely Facebook, as it is the most popular and the most commonly used site. The greatest danger of the social network is a high rate of involvement in cyberbullying. The central figure of the article is Phoebe Prince. After constant cyberbullying, the girl committed suicide. Online bullying is considered to be worse than bullying during school. The author aims at stopping cyberbullying without the violation of the First Amendment. The target audience is parents, school children, and school officials. This article contains valuable information as it analyzes the problems of social networking sites and their negative outcomes.

More About Persuasive Essay Writing

• What is the purpose of a persuasive essay ?
• How to write a persuasive essay ?
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• How to choose good persuasive essay topics in 2020 ?

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• Cyberbullying

Prevent Cyberbullying

Be Aware of What Your Kids are Doing Online

A child may be involved in cyberbullying in several ways. A child can be bullied, bully others, or witness bullying . Parents, teachers, and other adults may not be aware of all the digital media  and apps that a child is using. The more digital platforms that a child uses, the more opportunities there are for being exposed to potential cyberbullying.

Warning Signs a Child is Being Cyberbullied or is Cyberbullying Others

Many of the warning signs that cyberbullying is occurring happen around a child’s use of their device. Some of the warning signs that a child may be involved in cyberbullying are:

• Noticeable increases or decreases in device use, including texting.
• A child exhibits emotional responses (laughter, anger, upset) to what is happening on their device.
• A child hides their screen or device when others are near, and avoids discussion about what they are doing on their device.
• Social media accounts are shut down or new ones appear.
• A child starts to avoid social situations, even those that were enjoyed in the past.
• A child becomes withdrawn or depressed, or loses interest in people and activities.

What to Do When Cyberbullying Happens

If you notice warning signs that a child may be involved in cyberbullying , take steps to investigate that child’s digital behavior. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying , and adults should take the same approach to address it: support the child being bullied, address the bullying behavior of a participant, and show children that cyberbullying is taken seriously. Because cyberbullying happens online, responding to it requires different approaches. If you think that a child is involved in cyberbullying, there are several things you can do:

• Notice – Recognize if there has been a change in mood or behavior and explore what the cause might be. Try to determine if these changes happen around a child’s use of their digital devices.
• Talk – Ask questions to learn what is happening, how it started, and who is involved.
• Document – Keep a record of what is happening and where. Take screenshots of harmful posts or content if possible. Most laws and policies note that bullying is a repeated behavior, so records help to document it.
• Report – Most social media platforms and schools have clear policies and reporting processes. If a classmate is cyberbullying, report it the school. You can also contact app or social media platforms to report offensive content and have it removed. If a child has received physical threats, or if a potential crime or illegal behavior is occurring, report it to the police.
• Support – Peers, mentors, and trusted adults can sometimes intervene publicly to positively influence a situation where negative or hurtful content posts about a child. Public Intervention can include posting positive comments about the person targeted with bullying to try to shift the conversation in a positive direction. It can also help to reach out to the child who is bullying and the target of the bullying to express your concern. If possible, try to determine if more professional support is needed for those involved, such as speaking with a guidance counselor or mental health professional. 

How to Prevent Cyberbullying

This guide helps parents, caregivers, and youth learn ways to identify, prevent, and address cyberbullying.

A Speech on “How to Stop Cyberbullying?”

Cyberbullying is the kind of bullying that involves most modern digital technologies. Mostly takes place through mobile phones, social media platforms, gaming platforms, and while messaging.

This aggressive and harsh behavior is carried out to send threats, piss off someone, or shame and embarrass the targeted person.

Some of it includes actions like sending hurtful messages or threats via messaging, embarrassing one with photos or spreading lies around social media, or sending messages to other people impersonating to be someone else. 

Bullying can generally happen both digitally and in person; it is vastly among young kids and teenagers these days.

Either way, it is harmful to the victim and the victimizer. This is caused due to the lack of responsibility of the elders around their children, who never keep track of their child’s behavior and digital life.

Face-to-face bullying can only be stopped if the victim opens up and complains to his elders regarding the struggles he had to face caused by the victimizer to get proper justice.

As with cyberbullying, it makes it easier as it leaves a digital footprint. A digital footprint is a record that can be gathered as evidence to stop these kinds of abuse.

Bullying itself is horrifying; when it is done online, one feels like they are being attacked from all directions and there is no escape.

This eventually gives a feeling of being inside a tiny box with no air to breathe – suffocating. It affects the victim mentally, physically, and emotionally, making it difficult to express their feelings to their loved ones.

Being treated all the time harshly and embarrassed in front of everyone leaves them with no choice but to hurt themself or take their own life. 

The best way to stop cyberbullying is to report these kinds of cruel behaviors as early as possible.

Always try to open up to someone we love, our parents, teachers, or any elders, if we are being bullied.

When someone bullies you, never think that it is your fault. Ignore those kinds of messages; do not react to let the bullies have power over you. Use the tech tool options like block or restrict to stop them in case.

Always save the evidence of you being bullied so that when you reach out to your elders for help, this could be helpful.

Bullying can happen to anyone; make sure we seek out help, and also step out to help others in need, and never let them feel like they are alone in this. Leaving them to believe they are alone could be life-threatening. 

Social media platforms these days have even made it easier for us to report any such behaviors anonymously; they have a strong 24/7 support system to always help us.

If these kinds of bullying continue to happen, one can always reach the main server lines and ask for help to get the digital footprints. Thus, helping to take legal actions against the victimizers. 

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Best Bullying Essay Examples

Cyber bullying speech.

973 words | 4 page(s)

I . Introduction The topic of bullying is widely discussed today. Yet with the emergence of new technologies and the popular use of the Internet, the topic of cyber bullying has become quite popular. No wonder, since many children and adolescents are stumbling into this issue today. Importantly, online bullying (or cyber bullying) can be even more detrimental to one’s psyche than regular bullying. In particular, because the individual is left one-on-one with the bully in a virtual space where he or she cannot seek protection. Luckily, I did not have any personal experiences where I was bullied online. However, I had friends who encountered this phenomenon in their lives and shared their sad experiences with me. Furthermore, in order to make my arguments more credible, I have conducted a thorough research of the topic. This way, I will be able to present a most honest account of the issue of cyber bullying. In any case, cyber bullying can have numerous detrimental effects for one’s psyche. As to why it happens, just like with any other type of bullying, it may be the bully’s way of expressing his or her inner conflict by playing out the aggressor-victim situation with another individual.

Interestingly, cyber bullying is a phenomenon which is especially widespread among the younger population; therefore, I will focus on this age group in this speech.

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II. Body Hoff and Mitchell (2008) explain in their article that cyberbullying can be “deliberate and relentless” (p. 653), having numerous effects for the victims. Cyberbullies have endless access to their victims. They often hide their true identities and use “well-hidden internet protocol addresses” (Hoff & Mitchell, 2008, p. 653). Sometimes, even blocking the cyber bully online is not enough, since the bully may find new ways to reach the victim. Essentially, cyber bullying (like any other type of bullying) can effect the student’s capacity to learn at school. Victims of online bullying may experience various emotional affects, such as feelings of helplessness, depression, anxiety, and numerous others. Some parents are in denial that their child can be a cyber bully (Hoff & Mitchell, 2008). This makes it difficult to address the issue. Without the cyber bully’s parent’s support, when administrators or teachers attempt to intervene, little (or no) change can be achieved. It is crucial that parents and school staff become actively engaged for resolving the issue.

Essentially, we should keep in mind that cyber bullying effects do not go away when the abuse is over. The effects of bullying and cyber bullying can be especially detrimental and persist well into adolescence (Cowie, 2013). Research demonstrates that college students who once endured cyber bullying were more likely to experience depression, paranoia, or anxiety (Cowie, 2013). These individuals reported feeling unsafe and having a feeling of not being supported by others. Victims of cyber bullying can be targeted anywhere and anytime. This makes them especially vulnerable, as they can never prepare fully for the “attack.” Online, it is much easier to be a bystander. Special classes/sessions should be organized, where students are taught “to behave actively as bystanders” (Cowie, 2013, p. 168).

The topic of power imbalance should be addressed more closely when it comes to cyber bullying.

Technology has its own ways of creating “power imbalance” (Vaillancourt et al., 2017). The bully’s status is identified via the number of followers and supporters he or she has (which signifies his or her online status). The victim may feel intimidated if he or she has fewer online supporters. While the bully’s supporters may not directly support his/her actions, the victim may still feel that the person with the higher online status has more power. If more people spoke up to protect the person who is being bullied, this myth could be deconstructed. Humiliating messages and/or images that were previously sent to the bully when the relationship was good could be used to destroy/affect the victim’s reputation (Nixon, 2014). This is the most tricky situation, when personal data cannot be erased from another person’s database/computer. This is certain to create a power imbalance. Young people should be taught how to self-protect in such situations.

With all that has been said, it is crucial that we explore what can be done to lower the levels of cyber bullying, especially among children and teenagers.

III. Conclusion Cyber bullying is dangerous; it may lead to some unfortunate psychological consequences for the victim. Children/teens who were bullied have higher suicide rates (Nixon, 2014). Therefore, it is crucial that young people are protected from the dangers of online bullying at all costs. This can be done through special training and programs administered in schools where students learn to protect their information and to be active bystanders (vs. passive bystanders). Since this issue mostly affects young people, it is crucial that adults become actively engaged, helping students fight off online bullies. This way, a traumatic situation can be turned into a resourceful one. When young people learn that they can be stronger than the circumstances and feel supported by the other students and adults, they will feel motivated and inspired. What is more, we should remember that the bully also needs help and support, since he or she would not have become a bully if it were not for some deep inner psychological conflicts.

Do you want to read more college essay examples on cyber bulling? Make sure to check them out!

• Cowie, H. (2013). Cyberbullying and its impact on young people’s emotional health and well-being. The Psychiatrist, 37, 167-70.
• Hoff, D. L., & Mitchell, S. N. (2008). Cyberbullying: Causes, effects, and remedies. Journal of Educational Administration, 47, 652-65.
• Nixon, C. L. (2014). Current perspectives: The impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 5, 142-58.
• Vaillancourt, T., et al. (2017). Cyberbullying in children and youth: Implications for health and clinical practice. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 62(6), 368-73.

Have a team of vetted experts take you to the top, with professionally written papers in every area of study.

Cyberbullying Scripts for Parents to Promote Dialog and Discussion

Provides parent/teenager “scripts” to promote dialogue and discussion about cyberbullying.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2023). Cyberbullying Scripts for Parents to Promote Dialog and Discussion. Cyberbullying Research Center.

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Online bullying and playground taunts can lead to teen mental health issues. Here's how the experts recommend handling a bully

Matt Purcell was just six years old when a group of older boys stuffed him in a council bin and left him to stew in the juices.

It was the final act following months of daily school bus bullying that the Korean-Australian had been keeping to himself.

"I was an adoptee from South Korea and my parents were nothing like me, and that was targeted by bullies at my school," he said.

When his adopted parents learned about the behaviour they called the school and the boys were punished.

The physical assaults stopped, but the school bus taunts continued.

"What bullying does, it dehumanises you," Mr Purcell said.

"Being bullied at the age of six right through to high school made me feel like not a human. I struggled with my identity for years.

"My life was pretty sad for a long time."

His father enrolled him in Kung Fu classes, but that also caused problems when Mr Purcell responded to the bullies with his own violence.

"If it wasn't for mentors in my life who pursued me, I wouldn't be here today."

This week an international study found Australia's teens experience bullying at the second highest rate among developed countries.

The Australian Council for Educational Research analysed data from the OECD's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test which surveyed more than 13,437 Australian students in 2022.

It found Australia ranked number two for bullying, with 17 per cent of students reporting that "other students made fun of me" but the overall trend was down compared to 2018.

Students in Tasmania reported the highest levels of bullying with the lowest in Victoria, NSW and the ACT.

The study found teen girls were reporting anxiety, fear and panic at twice the rate of boys, but boys appeared more resilient to stress than girls.

Bullying can send some teens to the brink

Bullying is a type of trauma that falls under the banner of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and it may be contributing to the current surge in youth mental health problems.

"These mental health issues that appear in adolescence, they don't just happen overnight. Usually there's been precursors through the early childhood years," Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds said.

Numerous studies have found bullying, including cyberbullying, is widespread and more than two-thirds of children aged 12 to 13 have experienced at least one bullying-like behaviour in a 12-month period.

Online, approximately one in four Australians aged between 14 and 17 have been the victim of cyberbullying in the past year.

A major 2021 Australian review found that of all the Adverse Childhood Experiences, bullying — including cyberbullying — was associated with double the risk of suicide in later life.

Teens who were victims of cyberbullying were more likely to report elevated symptoms of depression or anxiety, and the use of social media in particular, was also associated with a high risk of depression and anxiety.

The impact of being left out

Dr Deirdre Gartland leads the Resilience and Mental Health research program at Murdoch Children's Research Institute and says long term bullying could impact how children regulate their emotions, causing them to miss school or disengage at home.

"Ongoing stresses that are persistent and significant for a young person are going to affect how the pathways in the brain develop," she said.

Commissioner Hollonds said greater focus was needed on what she called "the middle years" — ages 8 to 14.

"What we now know is that in those years children are really looking for a sense of belonging," she said.

"If they're not able to build that sense of belonging at school, then that will lead to them starting to disengage from school or to behave in ways that causes them actually to be pushed out."

In a bid to address the impacts of bullying, funding of $4.2 million for school resources and programs such as the Anti-Bullying Collective and the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, was allocated in last week's federal budget.

What can parents do?

Dr Gartland said there were facets of life that proved to have a protective effect when it came to resilience and coping with traumatic events like bullying.

These include:

• Fostering a positive sense of self-identity
• Maintaining a good connection to family and friends
• Maintaining a strong connection to culture
• Ensuring teens are enjoying hobbies or activities outside of school hours
• Family guidance
• Ensuring there's a positive engagement with the school and the teachers there
• Fostering a sense of optimism for the future; and
• Helping teens build the capacity to identify and regulate their emotions

She said parents could facilitate some of these by having family traditions like birthdays or family holidays or enrol children in language courses to help them connect to their culture as well as extra-curricular activities such as sport, music or art.

"Connecting in with something that your child or young person really enjoys doing is a really wonderful way to build their resilience," she said.

Parents also needed to be role models and help children understand their emotions during turbulent times.

"Parents can be helping children and young people to both name and recognise their feelings," she said.

Commissioner Hollonds said parents should try to find creative ways to stay connected with teens — whether it be watching trashy television together or cooking a meal.

"Don't think that just because they don't seem to want to spend time with you that that means they don't want you around. Teenagers want you around. That's a fact," she said.

"The more time you spend with them and have those incidental conversations, the more you get a sense of what that child's well-being is over time."

Resilience isn't about 'bouncing back'

Dr Gartland said it was important to remember that resilience did not mean "bouncing back".

"Resilience is about a child or a young person drawing on their internal strengths and drawing on the strengths and resources that sit around them," she said.

"When children do have access to these resources, they are much more likely to have positive mental health and well-being irrespective of what's happening to them in their lives."

Mr Purcell urged parents to become detectives in their teens' lives and use "I statements" such as, "I noticed you've not being going to basketball" to try to draw out what was wrong while sitting shoulder to shoulder with their teen.

"So you've got to get the information out — who's doing what and is this a pattern?" he said.

"Make a decision. Do I need to make my kid move school? Do I need to have a conversation?"

He suggested parents relate their own school experiences to help connect with their teen and even use themselves as a soft target to role play ways to deal with bullies.

"It's a verbal dojo. We practice questioning back to each other. How could I come back to that? Is that actually true?" he explained.

And what not to do…

A key message from the experts to parents is to avoid common cliches like "just ignore them" or "well, just hit them back".

Dr Gartland said those kinds of messages could be damaging.

"It's really important to acknowledge the challenges that young people and children may be going through."

Years after his own bullying experience Mr Purcell became a youth worker and noticed other young people also didn't have the skills to combat verbal abuse.

As a result, he created Social Kung Fu, a program designed to give young people the words and phrases to combat schoolyard and online bullying.

Teens are given mock scripts and taught to use questions like, "what do you mean by that?" and "how do you know it's true?" as verbal blocks to put those spreading rumours and making accusations on the back foot.

Mr Purcell said responding with violence escalated the situation instead of resolving it, and while ignoring bullies may work for one-off incidents, he believed it was less effective for ongoing targeting.

"By being passive you're teaching the bully it's okay," he said.

Mr Purcell said the answer lay in teaching young people that their words could have tremendous impact.

"If we can help people use their words to defend themselves and to give value, then I believe that [good] mental health will increase," he said.

Mental health disorders among young people have soared by nearly 50 per cent in 15 years. The ABC is talking to youth, parents, and researchers about what's driving this pattern, and what can be done to turn things around.

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