Cyber bullying is when a student uses the internet, cell phones, or other technological devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt, embarrass, threaten, torment, humiliate, or intimidate their victim.
Cyber bullying is more harmful than face-to-face bullying for many reasons:
Constancy: The insults, comments, or images can be preserved by the person who was bullied or by others so that the victim may read or view them over and over again and the harm is re-inflicted with each reading or viewing.
Audience size: The size of the audience that can view or access the damaging material increases the victim’s humiliation.
Familiarity: Many young people are friends with or know their cyberbully either through school or other personal connections, increasing the potential for embarrassment and humiliation.
Social Networking: Social networking sites allow cyberbullies to engage in campaigns against a particular person which may involve many others.
Speed: The speed at which harmful messages can reach large audiences also plays a major part in making cyberbullying so damaging to the targets.
Cyberbullying can be prevented by encouraging students to block all communication with cyberbullies, not forwarding any messages, comments, etc. that involve cyberbullying and always reporting any cyberbullying taking place to an adult.