The growing world of electronic media such as e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, and other forums, as well as the development of technologies such as cell phones and PDAs, is allowing for the growth of a new form of harassment known as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying includes using any of these mediums or devices to spread rumors, harass, threaten, or even stalk a victim. While it may happen to a person of any age group, it has become most common among teenagers and young adults.
Cyberbullying allows a person to expand upon the methods that most bullies used for years, which included physical intimidation, postal mail, and the telephone. With the new technology that is available, bullies can take advantage of a number of helpful tools. One such tool is the anonymity that the internet can allow someone. With physical intimidation, a bully was forced to be face to face with their victim, but the internet allows them the opportunity to threaten someone without disclosing anything about their own identity. This same lack of physical contact also makes it easier for a bully to be more vicious in their attacks. Another tool that cyberbullies are able to take advantage of is the ability to spread information, pictures, video, and so on, to a larger audience much faster than they could using older practices. Through the use of the mediums mentioned before, many people are able to be quickly alerted to the newest rumors or activities of a bully’s victim. Also, because of the amount of personal information that is easily available on the internet, bullies may choose their victims at random.
However, there are ways of protecting oneself against cyberbullies. The biggest and most important thing someone can do to protect themselves is by being careful of where you post personal information. By posting information about yourself such as an address, phone number, e-mail, or details about personal interests and hobbies, you make it easier for potential cyberbullies to gather details about you which they can use to harass you. By controlling where you post this information and who has access to it you limit your risk of being victimized, as well as making it easier to identify the bully in the event that you do.
Bullies generally thrive on the reactions of their victims. By responding with hostility, you are likely to provoke the bully and worsen the situation. Because of this, ignoring minor threats and harassments may make a bully less likely to bother you in the future. Similarly, changing an e-mail address after receiving unwanted e-mails will protect you from further harassment. And then if the bully reaches you at your new e-mail you have a stronger case for legal action. Another way to build a case is by documenting, and even printing, instances of harassment. And in the case that you feel you are being harassed or threatened, you can take this information to the appropriate authorities, be it a school or work official, or the local police department or FBI branch.
Cyberbullying is a dangerous new form of attack that people can use to damage the lives of the people that they are targeting. It can be difficult to track and keep an eye on, but if people are aware that there are means of dealing with cyberbullying by being smart in protecting themselves, as well as by documenting any cyberbullying that happens to them, it will make it a lot easier for the proper authorities to do their jobs in dealing with these bullies.
Posted by mraneo 