What? Cyberbullying is the use of Internet technology to cause emotional harm through frequent and deliberate harassment and intimidation. Cyberbullying can consist of threats, insults, and other methods used to harm or damage an individual’s computer system, reputation, and life (Taylor, 2008).
How? Cyberbullying typically occurs by way of email, cell phone, chat room, instant messenger, blogs, and websites. Cyberbullying can be either direct or indirect. Flaming, which is defined as an argument between two people that includes offensive language, insults, and threats, is consider a form of indirect cyberbullying. Direct cyberbullying includes harassment, exclusion, and denigration (Chibbaro, 2007).
Who? Young people are often the perpetrators in cyberbullying situations and they victimize their peers, although adults can be perpetrators or victims as well (Taylor, 2008). It is important for people to realize that anyone can be the victim of cyberbullying regardless of age, race, gender, and sexual orientation.
Why? Perpetrators are often motivated to cyberbully by anger, revenge, or frustration. Sometimes they do it for entertainment, lack of anything else to do, or to gain power. The perpetrator’s goals and objectives differ with each incident, which means the solutions are different for each occurrence as well (Aftab, n.d.).
