Cyberbullying

As individuals in the digital age, we have a responsibility to ourselves and others to be digitally smart. This means being mindful of our online behavior, whether it's reading and writing on forums, posting photos on social media platforms like Instagram and SnapChat, or engaging with others on various social media outlets. In today's society, where young people heavily rely on social media, it becomes crucial for them to understand the impact of their actions and those of others. They have the power to advocate for positive change and contribute to the prevention of cyberbullying.

Fast Facts

Children who bully are almost 40% more likely to commit criminal offenses as adults.

Children and young people under age 25 who were victims of cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to engage in self-harm and suicidal behaviors than their non-victim peers.
More than 1/4 of teens have seen mean or inappropriate comments about someone they know.

Researchers say that bullying usually ends within 10 seconds of an intervention by peers.

Learn more about cyberbullying

What Is Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

Cyberbullying

One in three online teens have experienced online harassment. Girls are more likely to be victims, but most teens say that they are more likely to be bullied offline than online.

Cyberbullying: Hiding behind the screen

Cyberbullying can take many forms. It can include harassment (insults or threats), spreading rumours, impersonation, outing and trickery (gaining an individual’s trust and then using online media to distribute their secrets) or exclusion (excluding an individual from activities). These activities can be performed via e-mail, instant messaging, text message, social networking sites such as Facebook or Tumblr, and other websites.

Cyberbullying linked with suicidal thoughts and attempts in young adolescents

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in the United States. In-person bullying is known to raise the risk of thoughts of suicide and attempts for both victims and perpetrators.

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