Cyberbullying: Causes, Effects, and Remedies

Published: 4.5.22

Updated: 24.7.24

Cyberbullying is a relatively new form of bullying that has been getting more attention as it becomes increasingly common.

In 2020, approx. 19% of children aged between 10-15 reported being victims of cyberbullying in the UK (That's one in five children).

Cyberbullying can take many forms including posting mean or embarrassing photos online, spreading rumors through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, or sending threatening text messages or emails with attachments such as viruses.

The effects of these actions can be devastating for victims since they are often embarrassed by their peers and have no way to stop the harassment from happening again.

This can lead to depression, anxiety, and in some cases, suicide attempts and completion.

Causes of Cyberbullying:

The exact cause of cyberbullying is unknown but many think that the anonymity and permanence of the internet has played a large part in its spread.

People tend to feel more protected when they are online so they may be more likely to say things they wouldn't normally say if there were no repercussions, and the permanence and searchability of information online can make it difficult to remove anything offensive that is posted.

Some causes include:

• Lack of parental supervision over children's Internet use or their computer activities (Nunes & Nowell, 2013) (Balfe & Li, 2004);
• Lack of experience with the Internet and/or computers;
• Racial, ethnic, or religious differences between the offender and victim;
• Low self-esteem in both victims and bullies;
• Lack of knowledge about appropriate online behavior. (Nunes & Nowell, 2013)  
• Bullying is not directly caused by any one factor but rather a variety of risk factors coming together to increase the likelihood of bullying.  
• There are many potential risk factors that may contribute to children becoming bullies or victims.  
• Bullies are more likely to have friends who bully, be male, and have low grades in school (Nunes & Nowell, 2013). Victims tend to come from families characterised by dysfunction
• Low self-esteem is also a risk factor for both bullies and victims.

Effects of Cyberbullying:

The effects of cyberbullying are similar to those experienced in physical bullying since they include depression, anxiety, loneliness, low self-confidence, poor academic performance, and in some cases, even suicide.

The effects can be more severe for younger children who may not realise that the information posted online is permanent and doesn't go away with time.

They may also be less likely to find ways to stop cyberbullying because it is done through technology which they may feel is out of their control.

When cyberbullying involves the distribution of embarrassing or threatening photos, information about victims spreads to a much larger audience than physical bullying, making it potentially more devastating.

In some cases, the harassment may never stop especially if young people aren't educated on how to seek help and avoid becoming victims.  

A study by Craig and Pepler (1997) found that 27% of children who were bullied online reported bullying incidents happening more than once, while only 8% who were bullied in person said it happened more than once.  

This suggests that cyberbullying can have a much longer lasting effect on its victims especially if it continues over a long period of time.

Remedies:

Preventing cyberbullying requires a comprehensive approach that includes education, parental involvement, and legal measures.

1. Education and Awareness:

   • Teaching Responsible Internet Use: Young people need to learn how to use computers and the internet responsibly. This includes understanding what information should and shouldn't be shared, recognising and reporting online bullying, and avoiding "headless" communication (using webcams or microphones without showing their face).
   • Early Education on Social Media Practices: Teaching safe social media practices at an early age can significantly reduce the likelihood of children engaging in cyberbullying. Schools and educators should create programs to educate students about appropriate online behavior.
   • Community and Organisational Programs: Organisations like stopbullying.gov and kidsecure.com have developed educational programs and awareness campaigns to prevent cyberbullying. These initiatives aim to increase awareness and provide resources for both victims and educators.

2. Parental Involvement:

   • Monitoring and Restrictions: Parents can play a crucial role in preventing cyberbullying by setting up restrictions on the amount of time their child is allowed to be on the internet, checking the websites they visit, and monitoring text messages sent from phones.
   • Open Communication: Encouraging open communication between parents and children about their online experiences can help identify and address issues before they escalate.

3. Legal Implications and Actions:

   • Understanding Legal Consequences: Both parents and children should be made aware of the legal consequences of cyberbullying. Many countries have laws in place that can result in severe penalties for cyberbullying, including fines and imprisonment.
   • Reporting Cyberbullying: Victims of cyberbullying should be encouraged to report incidents to the relevant authorities. This can include reporting to school officials, local law enforcement, or online platforms where the bullying is occurring.
   • Protective Orders: In severe cases, victims can seek protective orders against their bullies. These legal measures can help prevent further contact and harassment.

4. Role of Schools and Educators:

   • Implementing Educational Programs: Schools should implement comprehensive programs that teach students about the consequences of cyberbullying and appropriate online behavior.
   • Creating Support Systems: Establishing support systems within schools can provide victims with the necessary help and resources to cope with cyberbullying.

5. Awareness Campaigns:

   • Community Involvement: Awareness campaigns can help to raise public awareness about cyberbullying and its prevention. Community programs can also play a role in educating the public and providing support to victims.

By combining education, parental involvement, legal measures, and community awareness, the negative effects of cyberbullying can be mitigated.

These strategies not only help prevent cyberbullying but also aid in developing responsible digital citizens who can navigate the online world safely and respectfully.  

Role of Social Media Platforms in Combating Cyberbullying

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have implemented various measures to combat cyberbullying, aiming to create safer online environments for their users. Here's an overview of the strategies and actions taken by these platforms:

Facebook's Approach

Facebook has developed comprehensive policies and tools to address bullying and harassment on its platform:

1. Community Standards

   • Facebook's Community Standards explicitly prohibit bullying and harassment, including threats, malicious contact, and the release of personally identifiable information. The platform distinguishes between public figures and private individuals, offering greater protections for the latter.

2. Reporting and Enforcement

   • Users can report content that violates these standards. Facebook's moderators review reports and take appropriate actions, which may include removing content, issuing warnings, or temporarily blocking users from certain features. Persistent offenders may have their accounts permanently removed.

3. Automated Tools and Human Review

   • Facebook uses automated tools to detect abusive behavior, although it acknowledges that human review is often necessary for more complex cases. The platform's biannual Community Standards Enforcement Report provides transparency on the actions taken against violating content.

4. Bullying Prevention Hub

   • Facebook offers a Bullying Prevention Hub, which provides resources and guidance for teens, parents, and educators on how to address and prevent bullying.

Twitter's (now X) Approach

Twitter has also implemented several measures to combat cyberbullying:

1. Hateful Conduct Policy

   • Twitter's Hateful Conduct Policy prohibits behavior that harasses, intimidates, or uses fear to silence another user's voice. This includes abusive tweets, direct messages, and targeted harassment.

2. Reporting Mechanisms

   • Users can report abusive behavior directly through the platform. Twitter's safety team reviews these reports and takes action, which may include removing tweets, temporarily locking accounts, or permanently suspending users.

3. Safety Tools

   • Twitter provides tools such as the ability to mute or block users, filter notifications, and control who can reply to tweets. These features empower users to manage their interactions and reduce exposure to harmful content.

4. Transparency Reports

   • Twitter publishes transparency reports that detail the platform's efforts to enforce its policies, including the number of accounts actioned and the types of violations addressed.

Effectiveness and Challenges

Despite these measures, social media platforms face several challenges in effectively combating cyberbullying:

1. Detection and Reporting

   • Automated tools can struggle to accurately detect nuanced cases of bullying and harassment, often requiring human intervention. However, the volume of content makes comprehensive human review challenging.

2. User Engagement

   • Encouraging users to report abusive content and use available safety tools is critical. Platforms must balance user privacy with the need for effective moderation.

3. Legal and Cultural Differences

   • Social media companies must navigate varying legal requirements and cultural norms across different regions, complicating the enforcement of uniform policies.

4. Transparency and Accountability

   • Platforms are often criticised for a lack of transparency in their moderation processes and the perceived inconsistency in policy enforcement. Addressing these concerns is essential for building user trust.

Educational and Preventive Measures

In addition to policy enforcement, education and awareness are crucial in preventing cyberbullying:

1. Educational Programs

   • Schools and organisations should implement programs that teach students about responsible internet use and the consequences of cyberbullying.

2. Parental Involvement

   • Parents can help prevent cyberbullying by monitoring their children's online activities, setting time restrictions, and discussing safe internet practices.

3. Community Initiatives

   • Awareness campaigns and community programs can raise awareness about the impact of cyberbullying and promote positive online behavior.

For more detailed information, you can visit the following resources:

• Facebook's Bullying and Harassment Policies
• Twitter's Hateful Conduct Policy
• PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
• Facebook Safety Guide

Wrapping up:

Cyberbullying is a problem that affects many people, but it can be prevented through education and awareness.

If you or someone in your family has been the victim of cyberbullying before, make sure to educate yourself on how this form of bullying works so you know what to do if it happens again.  

There are now more resources available online than ever before for victims with advice on everything from prevention techniques to coping mechanisms when things get tough.

The hope is that cyberbullies will become less common as they learn about appropriate internet behavior in school programs, at home discussions, and by visiting websites like these where they may find help along the way (Nunes & Nowell).

The definition of cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to bully a person.

This can include text messages, emails, social media posts, and more. Cyberbullying can be just as harmful as traditional bullying. 

Cyberbullying can have a number of negative effects on victims, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and even suicide. 

There are a few things that we can do to help prevent cyberbullying and mitigate its effects: talking to our kids about cyberbullying, reporting incidents when they occur, and creating safe online spaces for our children. 

We need to work together to create a culture where cyberbullying is not tolerated - let’s start by talking to our kids about what is and isn’t okay online...

We can all make a difference.