In the context of a rapidly and highly digitized global environment, online bullying, otherwise known as cyberbullying, has become a prevalent issue. Using electronic means and online platforms to engage in harassment often under cover of anonymity, the problem is especially affecting younger populations. Cyberbullying can have significant consequences on par or greater than traditional physical bullying. It is vital to consider the extent and effect of online bullying and implement measures on various levels which address this serious social problem.
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Online bullying is difficult to define since the context of Internet interactions often encompasses rough humor or toxic environments, which, although concerning, do not represent cyberbullying. Furthermore, similar to regular bullying, it also encompasses social elements that academic research must define in the context of psychological and legal concepts. Cyberbullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phone, or other electronic devices” through the use of textual, visual, and oral communication for the purposes of abusing, coercing, or intimidating an individual (Espelage, Hong, & Valido, 2018, p. 65).
Similar to regular bullying, cyberbullying must meet the criteria of intent, harm, repetition, and imbalance of power, but these have different considerations in the digital space. For example, in online bullying, the repeating pattern of online attacks may not be as obvious to an external observer. However, a hurtful single post or comment can become viral due to the ease of public accessibility, and anyone who chooses to share or “like” it essentially contributes to repeated attacks on the victim (Patchin & Hinduja, 2015).
Internet is a gray area in cyberbullying as the online environments of discussion, gaming, and others can create a feeling of distance between people, especially if anonymous. Furthermore, there are numerous instances of taunting or social traditions in gaming, which may seem aggressive, but do not ultimately hold the intent to seriously harm another individual. In this case, it is common to refer to criminal law, which suggests that an individual must engage in a wrongful act with a guilty mind, and intent to harm.
Finally, the aspect of harm is most difficult to define within online bullying since there is no evident response or physical damages which may occur in real-life bullying. Harm depends on the perceptions of the victim and can vary in effect from social shunning to mental problems, which will be discussed later. Harm in its concept and operationalization of bullying must be assumed to be the truth when discussed by the victim, considering that online bullying has real-world consequences (Patchin & Hinduja, 2015).
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