Per the United States government, the definition of cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets.
This type of abuse can be directed toward individuals through personal text messages, emails or social media.
Despite its simple definition, cyberbullying, or cyber abuse, can be tricky to identify due to many not understanding internet culture and how it can manifest into something negative.
A person who was cyberbullied and has chosen to remain anonymous said that when they were bullied, it was hard to explain to their parents what was happening to them because of the lack of knowledge about social-media sites and the lack of physical contact in the abuse.
“They were very old-fashioned with how they defined abuse,” the person said. “I think they also didn’t understand what was going on because it was the internet and not real life in their view.”
Despite the internet being a non-physical space, cyberbullying and cyber abuse is very much real.
In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which estimated 15.7 percent of high-school students were electronically bullied in the 12 months before the survey.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when classes and events were being held over Zoom, some individuals intruded on Zoom calls to either cyberbully specific individuals or groups of people.
With working from home becoming more prevalent, this could likely continue in schools and workplaces.
“I am worried about that,” the individual said. “What if school or work becomes unsafe even when you’re at home?”
Chapter 71, section 370 of Massachusetts law, which provides for the prohibition of school bullying, defines cyberbullying and cyber abuse as “bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication” and further stipulates the phenomenon of cyberbullying as sometimes involving the assumption of the victim’s identity on the internet and bullying anonymously or by impersonating the victim.
It also includes mass communications like mass texts, or even posting something on the internet that is not directed toward the victim.
This law was amended in 2014 to include cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying and cyber abuse are non-stop forms of abuse, as technology and information travels fast and continues to increase in speed as technology advances.
The information also tends to go public, meaning that the abuse can be conducted by more than one abuser.
While cyberbullying and cyber abuse may not show physical signs of trauma on their victims it is considered to be the most dangerous form of abuse due to their persistence and permanency online.
“It’s almost like a mini epidemic,” the person said. “I hope there is more attention given to cyberbullying.”
