Cyberbullying: When ground reality shifts to virtual space
As the name suggests, cyber-bullying is the kind of harassment that takes place in the electronic world. It is the use of cell phones, instant messaging, e-mail, chat rooms or social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to harass, threaten or intimidate someone.
Cyber-bullying is becoming increasingly common these days, specially among young people. It is often underestimated by the public, and thus it's consequences too are neglected.
Types of Cyber-bullying
• Exclusion
• Harassment
• Outing/Doxing
• Trickery
Trickery is similar to outing, with an added element of deception. In these situations, the bully will befriend their target and lull them into a false sense of security.
• Cyber-stalking
• Fraping
• Masquerading
• Dissing
• Trolling
• Flaming
This type of online bullying constitutes of posting about or directly sending insults and profanity to their target. Flaming is similar to trolling, but will usually be a more direct attack on a victim to incite them into online fights.
Signs of Cyber-bullying
• Emotional
- Becomes withdrawn or shy
- Shows signs of depression
- Is extremely moody or agitated
- Is anxious or overly stressed out
- Shows signs of aggressive behaviour
• Academic
- Doesn’t want to go to school
- Gets into trouble at school
- Skips school
- Loses interest in school
- Drops in grades
• Behavioural
- Suddenly stops using the computer
- Changes eating or sleeping habits (e.g. nightmares)
- No longer wants to participate in activities once enjoyed
- Hurts self, attempts or threatens suicide
- Suddenly changes friends
Signs of a Cyber-bully
- Is exclusive, refusing to include certain kids in play or study
- Persists in certain inappropriate or unpleasant behaviour even after you have told him/her to stop
- Is very concerned with being and staying popular
- Constantly plays extremely aggressive video games
- Seems intolerant of and/or shows contempt for children who are "different" or "weird"
- Frequently teases or taunts other children
- Hurts animals
- Observes you excluding, gossiping about, or otherwise hurting others. As parents you have a tremendous influence on your children.
Difference between Bullying and Cyber-bullying
- Bullying is the verbal, emotional, and physical abuse of a person by another while cyber-bullying is a type of bullying that is done using devices such as cellular phones and computers.
- Bullying is easier to prevent than cyber-bullying
- While both are emotionally and mentally damaging to victims, cyber-bullying has a longer range and more damaging effect than traditional bullying.
- With traditional bullying, the victim can have a respite at home, but with cyber-bullying, he can still be reached even in the safety of his home.
Laws against Cyber-bullying in India
The National Commission for Women (“NCW”) in its legal module on ‘Gender Sensitization and Legal Awareness Programme defines cyber stalking as following:
‘Stalkers are strengthened by the anonymity the internet offers. He may be on the other side of the earth, or a next-door neighbour or a near relative!' It involves following a person's movements across the Internet by posting messages (sometimes threatening) on the bulletin boards frequented by the victim, entering the chatrooms frequented by the victim, constantly bombarding the victim with emails, etc. In general, the stalker intends to cause emotional distress and has no legitimate purpose to his communications'
Cyber Stalking is an extension of the physical form of stalking, committed over the internet, through e-mail or other electronic communication devices and can take different forms including slander, defamation and threats.
Cyber stalking includes, inter alia, the following:
- Sending threatening or obscene messages, posts or emails;
- Stealing a person's identity online and circulating false information with the intent to humiliate or harass;
- Tracing the location of a person through illegal means;
- Uploading obscene pictures;
- Posting derogatory remarks online with the intent to harass.
The Press release on ‘Digital Exploitation of Children', by the Ministry of Women and Child Development states that the sections 354A and 354D of the IPC provides punishment for cyber bullying and cyber stalking against women.
Cyber-stalking of women was recognized as an offence, subsequent to the insertion of section 354D in the IPC through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Section 354D of IPC defines stalking as following:
‘Any man who
1) follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman; or
2) monitors the use by a woman of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication, commits the offence of stalking: (emphasis supplied)
Provided that such conduct shall not amount to stalking if the man who pursued it proves that
i) it was pursued for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime and the man accused of stalking had been entrusted with the responsibility of prevention and detection of crime by the state
ii) it was pursued under any law or to comply with any condition or requirement imposed by any person under any law
iii) in particular circumstances such conduct was reasonable and justified.'
The language of Section 354D of IPC makes it clear that the section penalises both the offence of offline and online stalking, without discriminating on the basis of presence or absence of the ‘cyber' component. However, sub-section (2) fails to clarify the manner in which the victim can be said to be ‘monitored' or ‘watched' or what constitutes such acts.
Prevention of Cyber-bullying
1. Establish a climate of communication with your child
Every psychologist will tell you that one of the best ways to help your child or student is by establishing a ‘climate’ of trust and communication.
It’s not enough to be ‘willing’ to talk with a child or ‘hope’ that they’ll come to you if they experience bullying (of any kind). Ideally, there will be communication patterns established where they aren’t just likely to discuss this with you, but see you as a resource and support system.
2. Define it
Give them a formal definition of cyberbullying. Give them examples–examples they might actually experience using the online activities they’re most likely to use.
There are many forms of cyberbullying, from light-hearted by hurtful comments on facebook to passive-aggressive posts on Instagram to trolling on YouTube to cyberstalking everywhere else.
At the very least, be patient and ask a child about the problem in general: what is cyberbullying, does he/she know someone who is being bullied, what children should do if notice acts of bullying. This way you will see how much your child is involved in the situation and which side he/she is on.
3. Give them strategies to respond
And because the bullying is often done in front of friends and peers, make sure the ‘strategy to prevent cyberbullying’ has credibility with their peers–that is, that allows them to ‘save face’ and redirect the attention back to the bully. Ironically, the wrong response could encourage more bullying in the future.
4. Use celebrity card
Modern children aren’t so different than we were: they choose role models and are influenced by them.
Today, those role models are YouTubers and video game streamers and athletes as often as they are athletes, actors, musicians, and other ‘stars.’ And thankfully, many of these ‘role models’ discuss bullying, advocate for victims, and encourage each of us to create new social norms where bullying isn’t just tolerated but is shamed as a behavior.
5. Monitor online activity
Luckily, cyberbullying has one advantage or ‘traditional’ bullying: you can notice it and save the evidence.
If moving offline completely isn’t an option, you can install iPhone and Android phone monitoring apps. These can allow monitoring social media activity (including YouTube, Tik Tok, facebook, snapchat, and Instagram), the viewing of all text messages (even deleted ones), call logs, and general online behavior. You can even block and control the child’s phone remotely.
In short, know what they’re doing it online–when they’re doing it and with whom.
6. Know the apps and platforms
Piggybacking on the above, it’s difficult to prevent cyberbullying if you don’t understand how the apps work and the most likely ways trolls and others can affect your student or child’s well-being. It would be difficult to help students navigate bullying in a physical school if you’d never seen or experienced yourself and the same is true online.
7. Engage parents and youth
Create a community for adults and pupils to send a unified message against cyberbullying. Establish a school safety committee that will control and discuss the problems of online bullying. Just as there are now laws in some states against cyberbullying, teachers and administrators can create policies and rules, including a cyberbullying reporting system.
8. Emphasize positivity
School staff can do a big deal to prevent cyberbullying. As a teacher, you can use staff and parent meetings and even send newsletters. Use your school website to create a page and forum, where parents can discuss the problem. You can also engage bullies and victims by giving them mutual tasks, so they can try to see each other from a different perspective.
9. Remember the big idea
Remember that the ultimate goal is to protect and restore the victim’s self-respect and empower them with a mindset, tools, and strategies to protect themselves online and offline in the future.
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