Is Cyberbullying Constitutes Any Action Or Word?

Cyberbullying is an everyday situation for teenagers around the world. Many teenagers suffer from bullies that are treating them badly and differently than other people. Individuals should be prosecuted for statements made on social media because of the impact that it has on the victim. The cyberbully should be prosecuted because of how the victim reacts to the situation, how the bully harrasses them, and how it spreads around the internet.

Cyberbullying is when psychological harm is done through the use of electronics such as computers, cell phones, e-mail, social networking, and instant messaging (Clancy 579-582; Hanel, Trolley 33). However, in addition to the verbal behaviors, cyberbullying can happen when someone posts pictures or videos without the consent of the other person, creates hate websites of the victim, makes web pages posing as the victim, and such (Hinduja, Patchin, “Traditional and Nontraditional” 728; Willard 1). Cyberbullying is done two ways: direct and indirect. Direct cyberbullying is when such material is sent directly from the bully to the victim. Indirect cyberbullying is when the bullying is done through another person, another person’s screen name or cell phone, anonymously, or by hacking

What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is, “Writing hurtful statements on a social media site or website” according to “What is Cyberbullying?” published by the Ophelia Project. Regular bullying is usually face-to-face and usually ending with someone getting physically harmed. Cyberbullying is only hurting someone’s feelings not physically harming them. “If the child in question can’t handle... [their feelings getting

“...1 in 3 teens [have] admitted to being a victim of cyberbullying…” says child psychologist, Eden Foster, in reference to a survey, talked about in “The Dangers of Cyberbullying” by Brett Warke, that shows the absolute significance of cyberbullying in this day and age. Cyberbullying on social media is everywhere and it’s about time that someone took some action against it, and, in this case, taking legal action via prosecution may be the best way to go. Let it not be said that cyberbullying and bullying are different, infact, the only difference is the platform they take place on. Cyberbullying is done with the same malicious intent as face-to-face bullying is done with: the intent to hurt a victim in a psychological or physical way- showing

There are various categories that Cyberbullying can be prosecuted under in Australia’s criminal framework. But a lack of specific definitions of what ‘Cyberbullying’ leaves the severity of the crime up to interpretation and often the issue is not addressed to the satisfaction of the victim.

Physical abuse involving contact planned to cause bodily harm, feelings of intimidation, other physical suffering or injury

Cyber Bullying is defined by the National Crime Prevention Council as - "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person" (National Crime Prevention Council).

Cyberbullying is a form of written and verbal bullying which is conveyed by teens and adolescents through communication technologies such as cell-phones, emails, text messages, websites, webcams and chatrooms. It also includes taking sexual photographs by ex-partners and sending to others after

Furthermore, prosecuting individuals for statements made on the internet would squander taxpayers’ money. As “The Dangers of Cyber bullying” noted, “Congresswoman Linda Sanchez is sponsoring the Megan Meier Cyber Bullying Prevention Act.” Although some may say that financing the court system for the prosecution of “social media bullies” is necessary, it is proven that will also waste money and time. Surely, individuals should not be penalized for statements made on the internet.

The victim contravenes this if a person threatens the second one to cause any form of detriment to the second person or a third person.

Assault includes any behavior, whether intentional or reckless, which results in bodily injury to another person and/or damage to property. Included in this would be any behavior, intentional or reckless, that by its nature would be understood (interpreted) by a reasonable person as intent to harm another person or to damage his/her property. Threats may be oral or written. They may be communicated through regular mail, computer, fax, or phone. These threats may be direct or implied.

combination thereof, directed at a target/victim that: (i) causes physical or emotional harm to the

Finally, the asynchronous nature of electronically mediated communication allows for actions to be separated from consequences” stated Uhls (2012, para. 6). In simpler terms means that bullies, on the computer, may not know or really understand how their behavior affects the victim (Swearer, 2012). Uhls (2012) agreed with Swearer (2012) when she said that the internet creates anonymity to bullies; however, she

Technology can be used in many ways to cyber bully. Barnardos released a booklet in 2012 outlining a number of key risk factors of cyber bullying. Personal intimidation includes actions such as sending out threatening text messages, posting abusive and threatening comments on the victim’s Facebook profiles or other websites and the use of instant messaging in chat rooms etc. to threaten the victim further. Impersonation involves setting up fake profiles and web pages that are attributed to the victim; this also involves hacking or gaining access to the victims profile to contact or instant message others. Exclusion encompasses blocking an individual from a class group or community group on a social media website. Personal humiliation is a behaviour that involves posting images or videos of the victim that are intended to embarrass or humiliate them. This can be done on Facebook or by text messaging etc. And lastly false reporting, this is where the bully reports the victim to the service provider for a range of behaviours with a view to having the account suspended, blocked or deleted (Get With It, 2012).

There is a likelihood of an increase in the number of incidents of crimes of a psychological nature committed against internet users in a shared community through insults, ridicule, hate campaigns, child abuse and incitation. Such crimes make the targeted user to be vulnerable because they can be harmed by the content that is posted online or which is sent to them. Bullying in forums of users of school going age and workplace infringement of sensitive company information by aggrieved employees are also avenues for such crimes.