Cyberbullying: aggression targeted at a person through the use of technology or within a digital context
The vast majority of children who are cyberbullies are also targeted through at least one other type of bullying. Children who are cyberbullies are also at risk for negative outcomes such as loneliness, distress, loss or lack of friendship, lack of acceptance by peers, anger, lack of safety at school, low self-esteem, physical injuries, drug and alcohol use, weapons possession and eating disorders.
The main distinguishing characteristics between face-to-face and online bullying is the anonymity of cyberbullying. Some key differences between the two types of bullying include the following:
- The potential for reduced empathy by cyberbullying perpetrators due to their inability to witness their victims' reactions
- The relative and perceived anonymity the cyber context offers cyberbullying perpetrators
- Potential in cyberbullying for a much larger audience
There is general agreement that the two types of bullying share several key features, including intentionality, repetition and a power imbalance between victims and perpetrators.
Approximately 1/7 Canadian children between 10 and 17 is cyber-victimized and 1/13 children cyber-perpetrates. Stats show that at least 14% of children have reported to being cyberbullies once or more in the past month. Almost all children reported at least one other type of victimization in addition to cyber-victimization.
Cyberbullying is not an isolated experience, cyberspace is an extension of the interactions that occur in physical space. Cyber-interactions may mirror the complex dynamics of power and control that exist in some peer relationships at school and in the neighbourhood. There is a chance that becoming a target of cyber-bullying creates an exception among peers that harassment is "normal", inviting reciprocating bullying behaviours in any form.
Beran, T., Mishna, F., McInroy, L.B. & Shariff, S. (2015). Children`s experiences of cyberbullying: A Canadian national study. Children & Schools, 37(4), pg. 207-214. doi: 10.1093/cs/cdvo24
Li, Q. (2006). Cyberbullying in schools: A research of gender differences. School Psychology International, 27(2), pg. 157-170. doi: 10.1177/0143034306064547
Li, Q. (2007). New bottle but old wine: A research of cyberbullying in schools. Computers in Human Behaviour, 23(4), pg. 1777-1791. doi: 10.1016/c.chb.2005.10.005
