Cyberbullying is relatively new; however, the phenomenon emerged before the rise of the internet. Using traditional bullying as a foundation, researchers have described cyberbullying as “an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of interaction, frequently and over time against a victim who cannot readily defend himself or herself” (Kowalski et al., 2019, 23). There are various types, such as direct–aggressive actions directed at the victim by the bully. While the other, indirect cyberbullying occurs across multiple media and can reach more people. Academics have classified cyberbullying’s manifestations in even greater detail: flaming, exclusion, outing, and trickery (Kowalski et al., 2019). The core feature of a concept is anonymity, with allows the bully to hide their identity, which makes a victim feel powerless. Therefore, the idea of cyberbullying is similar to the traditional but realized through online platforms with new approaches.
The primary target of cyberbullying is school students, particularly middle and high school. The percentage in U.S. schools varies according to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and relations with peers. According to Kowalski et al. (2019), up to 51% percent of middle school students experienced bullying, while 5% more than once. Similar results appeared in the high school statistics, with approximately 35% of students reporting cyberbullying, and 14,5% said they bullied other students. Additionally, LGBTQ students (age 12-17) experience almost twice more bullying than non-LGBTQ people, 52,4% (Kowalski et al., 2019). Thus, the statistic shows a high rate of cyberbullying among students.
Individual, family, and peer factors also affect the bullying experience. According to Kowalski et al. (2019) research, several features of children’s and youths’ personalities, attitudes, and actions have been linked to the risk or protective factors for cyberbullying. Low self-esteem is among the most frequently mentioned personality risk factors for bullying victimization. Lack of self-control, social anxiety, aggressive impulses, and an antisocial personality are additional risk factors for people. However, improved emotion control and self-confidence in one’s ability to defend oneself are preventative measures against being cyberbullied.
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