Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying: a Virtual Menace

Sheri Bauman, Ph.D.
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, United States

Paper to be presented at the National Coalition Against Bullying National Conference
Melbourne, Australia
November 2 – 4, 2007

Cyberbullying: a Virtual Menace
School bullying attracted considerable attention worldwide as it became apparent that this widespread behavior was neither innocuous nor stamina-building but harmful and insidious. A considerable and growing body of research has examined the prevalence and consequences of bullying, and has evaluated the effectiveness of various strategies for reducing the behavior.
Recently, technology has been added to the arsenal of strategies that can be employed by bullies to harm others. As most middle and high school students in developed countries use the Internet and other technology, such as mobile phones, the potential for hurtful behaviors is great (Keith &
Martin, 2005). Cyberbullying, a term coined by Canadian Bill Belsey, has increased very quickly and educators and researchers are understandably concerned that this problem is growing more rapidly than is educators’ and parents’ ability to respond effectively. This paper will review what is known about cyberbullying and what can be done to prevent it. The issue of using technology by sexual predators seeking victims will not be addressed in this paper.
Definitions
First, it is important to be clear on the meaning of terms to be used in this discussion.
Bullying has been defined as behavior that is intentional, harmful, repetitive, and reflects an abuse of power. Bullying behaviors can be physical (hitting, kicking, pushing), verbal (teasing, threatening), or relational (social exclusion, harming friendships, spreading rumors). Although physical bullying cannot happen via technology, both verbal and relational bullying can be accomplished using a variety of technological tools. Thus, cyberbullying shall be defined as verbal or

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