Cyberbullying (cyberbullying, cyberstalking) is a type of violence using the Internet and electronic means of communication, e.g. mobile phones. Cyberbullying is a threat that can be divided into several types and which every year expands its scope, affecting an increasing part of the population, especially those who use new technologies more often. Read about cyberbullying, learn about the types of cyberbullying, and learn how to respond to cyberstalking.
Cyberbullying: definition
Cyberbullying(from Englishcyber bullying, cyberstalking ) is a behavior that, using new communication and information technologies, is aimed at harming a given person or group. It used to be believed that cyberbullying is mainly experienced by young people: young people and children, but more and more adults are also victims of this type of violence. The development of technology and almost continuous access to the Internet result in a disturbance of the proportion between real and virtual life, between relationships built in reality and those that are implemented mainly or only in cyberspace.
The revolution in social relations introduced by the popularization of the Internet seems unstoppable. However, the pace at which these changes take place significantly hinders the development of adequate strategies for action in cyberspace, which would prevent becoming the target of cybercrime. The process of our adaptation to the IT revolution, especially in the emotional, social and interpersonal aspects, is still ongoing and for the time being will require us to be very vigilant.
The pace of technology development makes it as easy to experience cyberbullying the hard way as it is to perpetrate it.
When trying to understand what cyberbullying really is, it is worth referring to the basic information on violence as such. To a large extent, we are used to dealing with violence in the real world, even on an intellectual level. Increasingly, we are able to identify physical or sexual violence.We usually associate it with a physical threat, we are able to identify the perpetrator and victim, we have strategies that protect us to some extent from experiencing violence and we know, at least on a basic level, the legal regulations on this subject. It is different in the case of cyberbullying.
What lulls the vigilance in the event of cyberbullying is the illusion that since both parties have no physical contact, the threat is smaller. The truth is, cyberbullying has as dire consequences as real-world violence, but this time it has found a new way of expressing itself through technology. What characterizes it is the speed with which harmful information or a compromising photo can be disseminated. It also makes the person experiencing violence feel constantly exposed to further attacks. Regardless of the time of day and where the victim is actually located in the virtual world, the "campaign against her" may still be in progress. Completely removing this content is often difficult and sometimes even impossible. The ease with which subsequent aggressors can join the aggrieved party not only helps the perpetrators to share responsibility, thus belittling it, but also fosters the escalation of violent behavior. Relatively low social control of this phenomenon, especially when children and adolescents fall victim to it, additionally increases the already unequal distribution of power between the victim and the perpetrator. Parents and guardians of children experiencing cyberbullying are often unaware of what is happening in the virtual space of their children, which effectively delays the ability to respond adequately.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying does not leave any traces on the body, is often unnoticeable by the environment, adopts subtle methods of influence, gradually escalating. However, the consequences for the victim are real: a sense of threat, helplessness or humiliation is a real problem for someone who has become the object of a cyber-righteous person. It is easy for us to go over the act of virtual violence, but it is based on mechanisms that we have known for years, even though the victim-perpetrator relationship is often not obvious in the virtual world.
Malicious comments, harassment with unwanted messages, publishing content that could be perceived as compromising often function in terms of an innocent joke, but these are only some of the activities that could be called a manifestation of cyberstalking. It happens that it begins innocently with a statement on the Internet with malicious, unfair commentary, and ends with actions that bear the hallmarks of persecution. Results of this typeexperiences largely have negative or even dangerous consequences in real life.
Worth knowingCyberbullying: types
Cyberbullying is a phenomenon that is constantly changing, but its most common forms include:
- recording videos and taking photos against someone's will;
- publishing other people's photos and videos without permission;
- sending false information to discredit or embarrass a given person;
- harassing, ridiculing, humiliating or even stalking via the Internet or a mobile phone;
- using hate speech towards a specific person or group;
- threatening, blackmailing, threatening;
- breaking into someone else's e-mail account, social profile, etc.;
- impersonating another person (online identity theft, for example impersonating a child, etc.);
- writing offensive comments on social networks, forums, blogs, etc.;
- creating offensive internet content.
Cyberbullying is a phenomenon that is developing as dynamically as technology, therefore it should be expected that other types of its manifestations will soon have to be added to the already mentioned forms.
Perpetrators of cyberbullying
It happens that the perpetrator intentionally wants to harm the other person, at the same time trying to win something for himself in this situation. What is really driving him? It is often a need for recognition in a given environment, e.g. peer group, sometimes it imitates the behavior of others, joining an already existing act of aggression. It also happens that the fear of becoming a victim prompts us to put ourselves in the role of the perpetrator - this side of the system is associated with strength and a sense of power, in extreme cases the reason turns out to be the need to control someone else's reality. What acts as a catalyst for the perpetrators' activity is a false sense of anonymity or even impunity. After all, posting someone else's photo taken in a sports locker room doesn't seem the same as a slap in the face.
The illusion that the inflicted suffering and the experience of harm is only virtual makes it easier to escalate acts of aggression and engage in subsequent actions.
In this situation, one can often notice the phenomenon of priming, which in the context of physical or psychological violence has been well described by psychologists. A person who has committed a relatively mild act of violence will be more easily or even more likely to commit it again. The more often we cross our own and other people's borders,the less our internal brakes start to work. Thus, the likelihood that we will use violence more often and more is increasing. Keep this in mind the next time we post a tough comment under a friend's photo.
When considering the motivation of perpetrators in the case of children and adolescents, it is worth taking into account developmental norms. Factors such as the limited ability to perceive a cause-and-effect relationship or the development of empathy have an impact on the use of cyberbullying. Children often find it difficult to notice how harmful their activity in the virtual world can be for others. Thus, it should be remembered how important the role of guardians and teachers is in dealing with cyberbullying among young people. Usually, the perpetrators of cyberbullying are people with low social competences, who have difficulty finding themselves in interpersonal relationships "only" when using socially acceptable methods. Often, the tendency to use this type of aggression is associated with low self-esteem and a desperate attempt to build one's image at the expense of others. Reacting as quickly as possible to even mild manifestations of aggression and educating and modeling appropriate behavior in the context of new technologies is the most effective method of minimizing the damage that can be caused by cyberstalking.
How to defend yourself against cyberbullying?
If you suspect that you have been a victim of cyberbullying, content about you or a loved one has appeared online, you do not remain vulnerable. You can always report the matter to the police, in each voivodeship there are police officers specially appointed to fight cybercrimes. It is important to keep all the evidence in such a situation, e.g. e-mails, text messages, screenshots (print screens), links to pages on which the content related to the matter appeared. It is always worth asking for the intervention of the administrator of a given forum or portal, usually already at this stage you can deal with the aggressor quite efficiently. It is also often advisable to limit any contacts with the perpetrators.
Although the perpetrators often feel anonymity in virtual reality, in fact no one is anonymous on the Internet, and the ability to identify the aggressor works to the advantage of the aggrieved party.
It is also worth remembering that when we feel helpless, ashamed and, as a consequence of the actions of the perpetrators, we do not have enough strength to fight for ourselves, we can always contact, often anonymously, with non-governmental organizations that they are supported by people experiencing cyberspace. Foundationsand associations of this type provides reliable information on what measures can be taken in a specific situation, also providing legal and psychological support. It's important to remember that regardless of the psychological consequences of cyberbullying, there are always options for support.
How to respond to cyberbullying?
If you witness cyberbullying, as in the case of physical violence, try not to remain indifferent. Think about arranging support for the victim who may feel helpless in this situation. It is worth demonstrating a clear position on the matter, not disseminating violent content and reporting the matter to, for example, the administrator of a given website or forum. It is important that the perpetrator does not get public acceptance, he should hear that hurting someone is not a harmless joke.
Cyberbullying: criminal liability
Although there are no specific regulations that specifically regulate the issue of cyberbullying, its perpetrators may be punished on the basis of selected provisions of the criminal, civil and petty offenses. Among the prohibited acts are, among others harassment (Article 107 of the Code of Petty Offenses), profanity (Article 141 of the Code of Petty Offenses), threats (Article 190 and Article 191 of the Criminal Code), electronic burglary (Articles 267 and 268 of the Criminal Code), violation of the image (Article 23 and 24 of the Civil Code) and violation of honor (Articles 212 and 216 of the Criminal Code).
ImportantCyberbullying - where to find help?
Below are the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses at which children, teenagers and parents will receive assistance in the fight against cyberbullying. The data is presented on the website of Bezpieczna Szkoła Cyfrowa - www.cyfrowobbezpieczni.pl, which is part of a project created with the support of the Ministry of National Education and aimed at improving online safety.
Children's Helpline of the Ombudsman for Children- tel. 800 12 12 12
Helpline for Children and Youth- tel. 116 111, website: www.116111.pl
Telephone for parents and teachers regarding online safety- tel. 800 100 100, website: www.800100100.pl
Team of experts of the Scientific and Academic Computer Network- a point where illegal content can be reported on the Internet - e-mail address: [email protected]