Cyberbullying And Its Effects On Society - 860 Words

Cyberbullying is any bullying that takes place with the use of electronic technology; cell phones, computers, social media, texting, and other electronic methods of communication. Cyberbullying typically happens to teenagers, when it happens to an adult is considered cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Cyberbullying is different than in person bullying because it can happen anytime, victims find it hard to escape, the bully can be anonymous, and the bully can be anywhere in the world. Children who are being cyberbullied are also most likely being bullied in person. There are many different types of cyberbullying. Harassing someone through texting, instant messaging, and emails. Posting rumors or embarrassing information on the internet.†¦show more content†¦If a child is the bully they may become increasingly aggressive, get sent to the principle more often, or even have friends who are bullies. Children who are less popular and who have less friends are more at risk of being bullied. Being different is also a contributing factor. Bullies in some cases have been bullied themselves in the past or are having trouble at home. Kids who are bullied are more likely to have depression and anxiety, complain about their health, and have lower grades. They are also more likely to drop out of school and have suicidal thoughts. While not every kid who is bullied will be suicidal, minorities are the most likely; American Indians, Asian Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) youth. Even kid s who just witness bullying are more likely to be depressed, skip school, and use drugs and alcohol. According to Cyberbullying statistics from the i-SAFE foundation and the Cyberbullying Research Center, over half of teenagers experience some type of cyberbullying, and 20 percent said that they experience it regularly. Because over 80 percent of teenagers use their cell phone regularly, it is the most common method for cyberbullying. More than half of young people do not tell their parents that they are being cyberbullied, and according to the Harford County Examiner, less than 1 in 5 cyberbullying occurrences are reported to the police. Sometimes there are case of