Cyber Bullying

We live in an Internet age. Socializing is extremely easy today. Communicating to people around the world is a matter of a few clicks on the Internet. The Internet has facilitated an easy access to information across the globe, thus making life easy. However, if you look at this Internet age from a different point of view, you will realize that it has in fact bred many illegal and unethical practices. While some use the Internet for gaining information, others use it for destruction of sensitive data. While some use the web as a communication platform, others derive pleasure from intruding in the Internet privacy of individuals and seek enjoyment from breaching Internet security. Cyber-bullying is one such activity that this section of Internet users indulge in. Let us find more about this unethical Internet practice, cyber bullying.

Cyber Bullying - An Introduction

Cyber bullying is the act of threatening, harassing or humiliating a person through use of Internet or any other digital interactive media. Targeting a person by means of emails, text messages or online postings is also referred to as cyber bullying. Teens are often seen falling prey to online bullying practices. Some of them might indulge in practices like sending online messages to cell phones with intention to hurt or embarrass the receiver.

Cyber bullying is not just associated with children and youngsters. It is also observed in adults and is referred to as cyberharassment. Cyber bullying practices range from simple activities like continuously bombarding someone with emails right up to sexual abuse by means of the Internet. Passing abusive remarks about someone, making him/her a subject of ridicule in online forums and spreading gossip or rumors about him/her are also classified under the category of cyber bullying practices.

Cyber bullying is of two types, namely direct or through a proxy. Direct attacks often involve the use of instant messengers and emails to humiliate individuals. Sending vulgar photographs through emails or uploading them on blogs and social networking sites is a form cyber bullying through direct attacks. Sending junk mails or spams and spreading malicious code by means of emails are some other example of direct cyber bullying. When cyber bullying practices take place without the knowledge of the person being used as a bully, it is said to take place through a proxy. At times, warnings and ‘click here’ messages can be deceptive. They may be programmed to send wrong information to the Internet service providers, thereby resulting in a legal action against the user clicking on these warnings or messages. In cyber bullying through a proxy, the cyber bullies victimize benign users by committing Internet crimes in their name.

Some Facts about Cyber Bullying

Kids and teenagers indulge in cyber bullying as a result of their frustration and anger. People having too much of empty time, tend to indulge in cyber bullying practices. This is a classical example of the adage, "Empty mind is a devil’s workshop." Earlier, bullying could be done in two ways, either through aggressive behavior causing physical harm or through verbal abuse in the form of teasing or ridiculing. However, in the technology-age of today, cyber bullying has come up as a relatively recent form of bullying that involves abuse through Internet and other electronic devices.

Cyber bullying can be accomplished by means of sending text messages written in a lewd language or sending abusive mail messages over the cell phone or the Internet. Bullying through web sites allows the web users to write abusive and hurtful messages on the site. Conducting Internet polls that are likely to hurt others is also termed as cyber bullying.

According to some surveys, around 33% youngsters of today have fallen prey to cyber bullying. Surveys have sited chat rooms as the most common platforms for online bullying activities. Instant messaging services and emails are also found to be the means of bullying.

Statistics show that cyber bullying activities can have devastating effects on the individuals victimized by them. Not all the victims admit to have fallen prey to online bullying. Very few of the offended people accept to have been bullied. Those offended by abusive language or insult over the web, suffer from depression. They feel deeply hurt and emotionally devastated. Those unable to combat the online abuse even resort to suicide.

As a precaution against cyber bullying, it is important for parents to keep a check on the browsing habits of children. Parents need to educate their children about online bullying and teach them to protect themselves from such unethical practices. It is extremely important for parents to watch out for the changes in the behavior of their children. If children seem to withdraw themselves from society and show an unreasoned negative behavior, there are chances that cyber bullying has victimized them. It is advisable to take immediate action in such cases, as it is better to be safe than sorry.