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| source : www.et.byu.edu |
Cyber Bully : the use
of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of
an intimidating or threatening nature.
Definition British and World Dictionary
What was once out in
the open is now behind closed doors, as we advance in our societies with new
technologies and new ways of staying at arms length away from everyone around
us – we are becoming more accessible to one another. Even though the door is
closed, communication and accessibility carries on weather we like it or not.
Cyber bullying and
traditional bullying essentially have the same intention and outcome..
Although, one is face to face and the other is behind a screen.
The key word here is anonymity. Cyber bullying allows the bully to feel
safe while ultimately their victim is led to feel the opposite.
It’s also often that
children being cyber bullied are not telling anyone let alone their parents and
one of the main reasons for this is the fear of having their technology taken
away from them or not being able to do anything to stop the bullying. Mishna
2009.
But is there an actual
difference between traditional and cyber bullying apart from the way it is
executed?
Studies have actually
shown that yes there is and the outcomes of cyber bullying v’s traditional
bullying are particularly more intense and negative for the victims.
According to Bonanno
2013, cyber bullying makes it easier for the bully yet more challenging for the
victim, anonymity as opposed to traditional face to face makes the bully less
aware of their impact on the victim.
The fact also that it
is happening in homes, which is supposedly in the victim’s safety, there is
nowhere to hide and the potential audience is infinite.
Can it be stopped or changed ?
New laws, policing, more educating, zero tolerance.. There are many
schemes out there educating children, schools and parents & good nature and
morals can be taught but when there is an absence of this people should be held
accountable for their actions through laws.
Can the laws of defamation and intentional infliction be used against
cyber bullies.. ?
Thank you for your
patience to those who have read through my blogs it’s been a blast !
Signing off Daniela : )
References and Further Reading:
- Bonanno, R, & Hymel, S 2013, 'Cyber Bullying and Internalizing Difficulties: Above and beyond the Impact of Traditional Forms of Bullying', Journal Of Youth And Adolescence, 42, 5, pp. 685-697, ERIC, EBSCOhost, viewed 4 February 2014.
- Cyber Smart,http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/
- Gerstenfeld, P, Grant, D, & Chau-Pu, C 2003, 'Hate Online: A Content Analysis of Extremist Internet Sites', Analyses Of Social Issues & Public Policy, 3, 1, pp. 29-44, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 1 February 2014
- Mishna,F,Saini, M,Solomon, S, 2009, Ongoing and Online: Children and youths perceptions of cyber bullying, Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier.com.
