Online Harassment and Cyberbullying
Posted by John Blake on April 25th, 2021
Online bullying or cyber-bullying is a type of harassment or abuse using electronic means. The term "cyber-bullying" describes the act of sending threatening or annoying messages through email, instant message, instant messaging, online forums, and other Internet-based communication systems. Cyberbullying is also sometimes referred to as cyber-harassment or internet bullying. Since cyberbullying has now come under the definition of cybercrime, many individuals who are being victimized by it are left with no other option but to trust online communication systems for safety.
However, there are many ways to protect yourself from the dangers of cyberbullying. Cyberbullies thrive on online social media, including online forums, chat rooms, social networking sites, and social media websites like MySpace and Facebook. There are many individuals and even parents who do not know the first thing about how to protect their children from cyberbullies. Unfortunately, they have not only failed to do so but have enabled this type of harassment to take place. As a parent, it is your responsibility to learn how to recognize the signs of cyberbullying, which may be similar to other forms of harassment, and how to take action.
One of the more obvious signs of cyberbullying is physical threats online. Cyber-bullied individuals repeatedly send messages or photographs of themselves in a provocative pose, sometimes sending these images in random directions. For some, sending these images may have legal consequences. For example, one cyber-bully was sentenced to jail after she sent images of her bare chest to various friends. These types of explicit images may lead victims to think that their only means of avoiding physical violence are through avoidance, which only exacerbates the problem.
The same goes for cyberbullying that takes place through social media. Numerous individuals and parents have learned that cyberbullies frequently make use of social media to taunt their victims. In some cases, the cyberbullies' target is other teenagers and children, encouraging other youth to join in the cyberbullying. This may have serious consequences for the victims and their families.
Another cyberbullying trend is what is called" cyberstripping," wherein someone posts intimate photos of someone else online, typically with the victim's permission. These images can then be distributed throughout the internet by anonymous users. Some people believe that cyberbullies are attracted to someone's appearance - whether it be physical appearance or a perceived physical odour - and choose to cyber-stretch that person until they feel secure enough to cyber-bite them themselves. Cyber-stripping is often used as a means of harassment.
Teens also say someone's name online in what is called "swatting." This involves reporting an online encounter to a third-party website to receive retribution or to simply embarrass the target. For example, a teen may report that another teen harassed them via a chat room and then falsely accuse the "target" of committing a crime or hurting him/her in some way. In other cases, teens report that someone has sent them private photos of someone else without their permission. There is often an extensive history of behaviour posted on the alleged offender's social media page that would normally result in the individual being reported to law enforcement.
Yet another type of online harassment is called "expose." This involves posting or sharing explicit images of someone in a private or publicly visible area of a website. Many social media websites have made it possible for members to report offensive online behaviours in many ways, including via public reporting forms. Yet, most people who experience these types of threats do not know how to deal with them and do not know where to turn for help.
Many parents, both of those dealing with online harassment and cyberbullies, are largely unfamiliar with how to protect their children from these sources of danger. It is often best for victims to seek out professional help, from qualified professionals. Legal counsel will be able to advise victims of the various legal remedies available, including reporting procedures, steps to take if someone threatens you via social media, and so forth. Victims should also be aware that they may be entitled to additional compensation if their online harassment has resulted in a physical confrontation. Many bullies will attempt to get close enough to the victim to touch them in some way, and may even resort to physical violence if the victim does not report their attacks.
