Cyberbullying

Persons, particularly young persons, are more reliant on technology to provide social connections than ever before. This focus on social media for interpersonal connectivity creates the potential for victimization via online bullying. Cyberbullying refers to aggressive, intentional, and harmful behavior that is willfully conducted by a group or individual toward a specific victim through the use of electronic messaging. When defining cyberbullying, many researchers begin with Dan Olweus’s tenets of traditional bullying, which include intent to inflict harm, a power differential, and repetition. These aspects are present in cyberbullying, but it is conducted via personal computers, cellular phones, or other electronic technology. Cyberbullies convey harmful messages through name-calling, rumor spreading, and abusive comments. While cyberbullying takes place outside school, it often has reverberations within the ...