Flaming: Online fights with angry and vulgar language.
Harassment: Repeatedly sending nasty, mean and insulting messages
Denigration: Sending or posting gossip or rumors (in the form of text, pictures, videos, audios) about a person to damage their reputation or relationships
Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material to get that person in trouble or damage their reputation or relationships (see below for more info)
Outing: Sharing someones secrets or embarrassing information or images online.
Cyber stalking: Repeated, intense harassment and denigration that includes threats and creates significant fear.
Why do people cyber bully?
They think its funny
Don't think its a big deal
Don't think about the consequences
They are encouraged by peers
They think they wont get caught
Why is it particularly bad?
Happens 24/7
Spreads quickly
Can be anonymous and difficult to find the source
Deleting images/videos/posts can be nearly impossible in some cases.
Has lasting effects
Possible effects
Depression
Self harm
Lack of interest in activities
Alcohol and drugs
Skip school
Experience in-person bullying
Receive poor grades
Have lower self-esteem
Have more health problems
Suicide
Retaliation (continuing the cycle) (later in life or maybe immediately by seeking revenge on bully or cyber bullying others)
How to prevent cyber bullying?
Refuse to pass along/spread/encourage cyber-bullying messages
Tell cyber-bullies to stop, no matter how close they are to you
Block communication with cyber-bullies
Report them
Raise awareness! Many people aren't aware that they're cyber-bullies
What if I'm a victim?
Don't respond. Don't retaliate.
Tell an adult
Save all evidence. Don't delete/alter anything!
Don't be ashamed. It's not you, its them.
If intense harassment continues, contact the police. If the adult you're speaking to takes things too lightly, talk to others. If they still don't care, contact the police or an anti-bullying society
After you think you've got all evidence, block them