Cyberbullying speaker | Cyberbullying expert

Posted by John Smith on July 14th, 2015

How is cyberbullying different from traditional bullying?
 
First, victims often do not know who the bully is, or why they are being targeted.  The cyberbully can cloak his or her identity behind a computer or cell phone using anonymous email addresses or pseudonymous screen names.  Second, the hurtful actions of a cyberbully are viral; that is, the large number of people (at school, in the neighborhood, in the city, in the world!) can be involved in a cyber-attack on a victim, or at least find out about the incident with a few keystrokes or clicks of the mouse.  The perception, then, is that absolutely everyone knows about it. 
 
Why is cyberbullying becoming a major issue?
 
Cyberbullying is a growing problem because more and more kids are using and have completely embraced the Internet and Internet-based interactions.  Many kids go online every day for school work, to keep in touch with their friends, to play games, to learn about celebrities, or for many other reasons.  Because the Internet and cell phones have become an important part of their lives, it is not surprising that some kids have decided to use the technology to be malicious or threatening to others.  The fact that there is a measure of anonymity, and that it is easier to be cruel using typed words rather than spoken words face-to-face also contributes to the problem.  And because some adults have been slow to respond to cyberbullying, many cyberbullies feel that there are little to no consequences for their actions. 
 
Is cyberbullying a state, national or global problem that affects kids?
 
Cyberbullying crosses all geographical boundaries. Bullying expert Sameer Hinduja says that the Internet has really opened up the whole world to the masses, and for the most part this has been a good thing.  Nevertheless, because of the perceived anonymity and geographical distance and physical separation people have when interacting online, some kids feel free to say whatever they want to another person online without considering that those typed words can really hurt – and sometimes cause severe psychological and emotional pain.
 
What are the biggest challenges in the fight against cyberbullying?
 
There are two challenges today that make it difficult to prevent cyberbullying.  First, many people don’t see the harm associated with it.  Some attempt to dismiss or disregard cyberbullying because there are “more serious forms of aggression to worry about.”  While it is true that there are many issues facing adolescents, parents, and teachers today, we first need to accept that cyberbullying is one such problem that will only get more serious if ignored.
 
The other challenge relates to who is willing to step up and take responsibility for responding to inappropriate online behavior.  Parents often say that they don’t have the technical skills to keep up with their kids’ online behavior; teachers are afraid to intervene in behaviors that often occur off of school grounds, and law enforcement is hesitant to get involved unless there is clear evidence of a crime or a significant threat to someone’s physical safety.  As a result, cyberbullying incidents often slip through the cracks and because they are not quickly addressed, the behavior often continues.  According to Hinduja, a noted bullying speaker, we need to create an environment where kids feel comfortable talking with adults about this problem and where they feel confident that meaningful steps will be taken to resolve the situation.  We need to also get everyone involved - kids, teens, parents, educators, counselors, law enforcement, social media companies, and the community at large.  It will take a concerted and comprehensive effort from all of these stakeholders to really make a difference in reducing cyberbullying.