Skip To Main Content

CYBERBULLYING!

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional and involves an imbalance of power or strength. Usually, it is repeated over time. Traditionally, bullying has involved actions such as: hitting or punching (physical bullying), teasing or name-calling (verbal bullying), or intimidation through gestures or social exclusion. In recent years, technology has given children and youth a new means of bullying each other.

Cyberbullying, which is sometimes referred to as online social cruelty or electronic bullying, has been defined as "an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself" (Smith et al., 2008, p. 376).

Cyberbullying can involve:

  • Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images
  • Posting sensitive, private information and/or lies about another person
  • Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad
  • Intentionally excluding someone from an online group (Willard, 2005)

 Children and youth can cyberbully each other through:

  • Emails
  • Instant messaging
  • Text or digital imaging messages sent on cell phones
  • Social networking sites
  • Web pages
  • Blogs
  • Chat rooms or discussion groups
  • Other cyber technologies

Thank you from the Faculty, Staff, and Administration of Sequoia Alternative Program