By Romel Hairston, Khalia Douglas, Cameron Saeed

Cyberbullying

One of the newest challenges we are facing as a society is cyberbullying. The ease of access to online forms of communication and connection is easier than ever before. Due to these reasons, it has allowed bullies to migrate online with ill intentions to harm and exploit others. Cybersecurity plays a huge role in how this can be prevented.

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is the use of bullying over digital devices such as cell phones and computers. Cyberbullying is deliberate, a repeated pattern, and inflicts harm. This can be done through a variety of mediums such as text messages, social media, online forums, gaming communities, email, and more. The most common place where cyberbullying occurs is social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Snapchat; text messaging and messaging apps; online forums, and message boards. Some behaviors that are reflective of cyberbullying include but are not limited to hurtful comments, threats, rumors, pictures, or videos intimidating, deceiving, harassing, humiliating, and impersonating someone else. 

Technology’s Contribution

 Due to everything being connected to the internet, anyone can access it at pretty much any given time, especially because of gaming systems and social media where people go to attempt to have fun or express themselves and how they feel. According to StopBulling.Gov, “ With the prevalence of social media and digital forums, comments, photos, posts, and content shared by individuals can often be viewed by strangers as well as acquaintances”. Almost everyone in today’s society has access to a mobile phone and that can lead to being exposed to cyberbullying: even kids have access to mobile phones. “Access to cell phones and digital technology in adolescence is related to both victim availability and prevalence of cyberbullying itself. Among younger students, those under 12 years old, one study has found that cell phone ownership increases the risk of being both a cyberbully and a cyber bully/victim significantly” (Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)).

Societal Impact

Cyberbullying has become an international health concern among adolescents’ health and well-being.  Cyberbullying can harm the online reputations of everyone involved – not just the person being bullied, but those doing the bullying or participating in it. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Adolescents who are targeted via cyberbullying report increased depressive affect, anxiety, loneliness, suicidal behavior, and somatic symptoms. Perpetrators of cyberbullying are more likely to report increased substance use, aggression, and delinquent behaviors.” Multiple studies, including this one on the effects on American youth, showcase this. The shift from face-to-face communication towards online communication has created almost a new culture, and part of this can be potentially harmful to adolescents’ social relationships.

Cybersecurity’s Role and Challenges

Cybersecurity plays a role in cyberbullying in many ways. According to Fritchen, “One strategy that is helping districts is the use of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework standard to help fight against the rising occurrence of cybersecurity and cyberbullying threats”. There aren’t many counters to cyberbullying, cyberbullying will always be an issue. There have been instances when a person is able to hack into an account to bully, intimidate and even blackmail. Having some basic good online practices can prevent this such as strong passwords and utilizing reliable and secure connections, computers, and devices can help prevent such actions. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, cyberbullying is a big issue in today’s society due to the fact that the web is accessible to almost everyone that has just a simple mobile device. And the fact that there isn’t much that can be done to stop bullying: only precautions can be put in place to help reduce the impact of cyberbullying.

References

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA), ASPA. “What Is Cyberbullying.” StopBullying.gov, 5 Nov. 2021, https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it.

Englander, Elizabeth. “Childhood Access to Technology and Cyberbullying.” Journal of Pediatrics and Pediatric Medicine, 19 Mar. 2019, https://www.pediatricsresearchjournal.com/articles/childhood-access-to-technology-and-cyberbullying.html.

Fritchen, Katie. “How Cybersecurity and Cyberbullying Are Intertwined in K-12 Schools.” Security Boulevard, 8 Oct. 2020, https://securityboulevard.com/2020/10/how-cybersecurity-and-cyberbullying-are-intertwined-in-k-12-schools/.

Goebert, Deborah, et al. “The Impact of Cyberbullying on Substance Use and Mental Health in a Multiethnic Sample – Maternal and Child Health Journal.” SpringerLink, Springer US, 8 Sept. 2010, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-010-0672-x.

Nixon, Charisse L. “Current Perspectives: The Impact of Cyberbullying on Adolescent Health.” Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, Dove Medical Press, 1 Aug. 2014, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126576/.

Patchin, Justin, and Sameer Hinduja. “What Is Cyberbullying?” Cyberbullying Research Center, n.d., https://cyberbullying.org/what-is-cyberbullying.