Cyberbullying

Cyber-bullying 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 often done by children, who have increasingly early access to these technologies. The problem is compounded by the fact that a bully can hide behind an electronic veil, disguising his or her true identity. This secrecy makes it difficult to trace the source and encourages bullies to behave more aggressively than they might face-to-face. Cyber-bullying can include such acts as making threats, sending provocative insults or racial or ethnic slurs, gay bashing, attempting to infect the victim's computer with a virus, and flooding an e-mail inbox with messages. If you are a victim, you can deal with cyber-bullying to some extent by limiting computer connection time, not responding to threatening or defamatory messages, and never opening e-mail messages from sources you do not recognize or from known sources of unwanted communications. More active measures include blacklisting or white listing e-mail accounts, changing e-mail addresses, changing ISPs, changing cell phone accounts, and attempting to trace the source. Because the use of mobile and online communications has grown so rapidly and the crime is relatively new, many jurisdictions are deliberating over cyber-bullying laws. However, the crime is covered by existing laws against personal threats and harassment. In some cases, it may be advisable to inform the local police department or consult an attorney. It is not recommended that you retaliate in kind because such behavior can lead to heightened attacks, or even civil actions or criminal charges against you. http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/cyberbullying What is Cyberbullying Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles. Why Cyberbullying is Different Kids who are being cyberbullied are often bullied in person as well. Additionally, kids who are cyberbullied have a harder time getting away from the behavior. * Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night. * Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source. * Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent. Effects of Cyberbullying   Cell phones and computers themselves are not to blame for cyberbullying. Social media sites can be used for positive activities, like connecting kids with friends and family, helping students with school, and for entertainment. But these tools can also be used to hurt other people. Whether done in person or through technology, the effects of bullying are similar. Kids who are cyberbullied are more likely to: * Use alcohol and drugs * Skip school * Experience in-person bullying * Be unwilling to attend school * Receive poor grades * Have lower self-esteem * Have more health problems http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/index.html ------------------------------------------------- Definition The term "cyber bullying" is attributed to anti-bullying activist Bill Belsey.[1] Legal definition Cyber bullying is defined in legal glossaries as * actions that use information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm another or others. * use of communication technologies for the intention of harming another person * use of internet service and mobile technologies such as web pages and discussion groups as well as instant messaging or SMS text messaging with the intention of harming another person. Examples of what constitutes cyber bullying include communications that seek to intimidate, control, manipulate, put down, falsely discredit, or humiliate the recipient. The actions are deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior intended to harm another. Cyber bullying has been defined by The National Crime Prevention Council: “When the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person."[2][3] A cyber bully may be a person whom the target knows or an online stranger. A cyber bully may be anonymous and may solicit involvement of other people online who do not even know the target. This is known as a 'digital pile-on.'[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying#Legal_definition cyberbullying There are bullies and then there are cyberbullies. While bullying typically happens at school or work, cyberbullying takes place over cyberspace. This includes both Internet and cell phone communication. Like physical bullying, cyberbullying is aimed at younger people, such as children and teenagers. It may involve harassing, threatening, embarrassing, or humiliating young people online. Cyberbullying can take many forms. The following are just a few examples: * Making fun of another user in an Internet chat room. * Harassing a user over an instant messaging session. * Posting derogatory messages on a user's Facebook or MySpace page. * Circulating false rumors about someone on social networking websites. * Publishing lewd comments about another person on a personal blog. * Posting unflattering pictures of another user on the Web. * Spamming another user with unwanted e-mail messages. * Sending threatening or provocative e-mails. * Repeatedly calling another person's cell phone. * Sending unsolicited text messages to another user. Cyberbullying may seem humorous to some people, but it is a serious matter. Kids who are bullied online often feel hurt and rejected by their peers. This can lead to low self esteem and depression. Therefore, cyberbullying should not be tolerated and should be reported to authorities. NOTE: Technically, cyberbullying takes place between two young people. When adults are involved, it may be called cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. http://www.techterms.com/definition/cyberbullying What is cyberbullying, exactly' "Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyberbullying. It isn't when adult are trying to lure children into offline meetings, that is called sexual exploitation or luring by a sexual predator. But sometimes when a minor starts a cyberbullying campaign it involves sexual predators who are intrigued by the sexual harassment or even ads posted by the cyberbullying offering up the victim for sex. The methods used are limited only by the child's imagination and access to technology. And the cyberbully one moment may become the victim the next. The kids often change roles, going from victim to bully and back again. Children have killed each other and committed suicide after having been involved in a cyberbullying incident. Cyberbullying is usually not a one time communication, unless it involves a death threat or a credible threat of serious bodily harm. Kids usually know it when they see it, while parents may be more worried about the lewd language used by the kids than the hurtful effect of rude and embarrassing posts. Cyberbullying may rise to the level of a misdemeanor cyberharassment charge, or if the child is young enough may result in the charge of juvenile delinquency. Most of the time the cyberbullying does not go that far, although parents often try and pursue criminal charges. It typically can result in a child losing their ISP or IM accounts as a terms of service violation. And in some cases, if hacking or password and identity theft is involved, can be a serious criminal matter under state and federal law. When schools try and get involved by disciplining the student for cyberbullying actions that took place off-campus and outside of school hours, they are often sued for exceeding their authority and violating the student's free speech right. They also, often lose. Schools can be very effective brokers in working with the parents to stop and remedy cyberbullying situations. They can also educate the students on cyberethics and the law. If schools are creative, they can sometimes avoid the claim that their actions exceeded their legal authority for off-campus cyberbullying actions. We recommend that a provision is added to the school's acceptable use policy reserving the right to discipline the student for actions taken off-campus if they are intended to have an effect on a student or they adversely affect the safety and well-being of student while in school. This makes it a contractual, not a constitutional, issue. http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html Cyber Bullying Law & Legal Definition Cyber bullying refers to any harassment that occurs via the internet, cell phones or other devices. Communication technology is used to intentionally harm others through hostile behavior such as sending text messages and posting ugly comments on the internet. The National Crime Prevention Council defines cyber-bullying as “the process of using the Internet, cell phones or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.” Cyber-bullying could be limited to posting rumors or gossips about a person in the internet bringing about hatred in other’s minds; or it may go to the extent of personally identifying victims and publishing materials severely defaming and humiliating them http://definitions.uslegal.com/c/cyber-bullying/ Cyber-bullying: 1. Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by anindividual or group, that is intended to harm others. 2. Cyber-bullying is bullying which uses e-technology as a means of victimising others. It is the use of an Internet service or mobile technologies – such as e-mail, chat room discussion groups, instant messaging, webpages or SMS (text messaging) – with the intention of harming another person. Examples include communications that seek to intimidate, control, manipulate, put down or humiliate the recipient. 3. Cyber-bullying definition by The National Crime Prevention Council: “when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.” 4. Cyber-bullying definition by StopCyberbullying.org: “a situation when a child, tween or teen is repeatedly ‘tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted’ by another child or teenager using text messaging, email, instant messaging or any other type of digital technology.” http://legaldefinitions.co/cyber-bullying.html Slang term used to describe online harassment, which can be in the form offlames, comments made in chat rooms, the sending of offensive or cruel e-mail, or even harassing others by posting on blogs, Web pages or social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook or MySpace. Unlike physical bullying, cyberbullying can often be difficult to track as the cyberbully — the person responsible for the acts of cyberbullying — can remain anonymous when threatening others online. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/cyberbullying.html Another good definition is proposed by Caroline Cannizzaro in the Children's Legal Rights Journal (2008): "Cyber-bullying occurs when a child or adolescent is harassed, tormented, teased, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted by another person, usually a peer, using the Internet, cell phone, or other mobile technology. The bullying may be initiated in person or by using technology, and may involve several youths victimizing another youth. In certain cases, a parent or adult may become involved, taking part as an accomplice of an adolescent victim or perpetrator of harassment...." "The amount of cyber-bullying has dramatically increased over the past few years, due to two main factors. First, the anonymity of technology decreases the inhibitions of children who use the Internet and cell phones to engage in such behavior.... Second, the accessibility of the Internet and cell phones means that at any instant a youth may engage in harassing behavior with little or no supervision from parents or teachers. "Cyber-bullying occurs in a variety of forms. It often occurs through harassing or hate-filled instant messages or text messages. It may also include tormenting posts to a social networking website or the formation of social networking groups or polls to harass or humiliate. Cyber-bullying may involve sending pornographic pictures through text and instant messaging or posting pornographic pictures on a website. Finally, it may involve impersonation of a victim or of another person and the stealing of passwords." There are several anti-cyber bullying websites such as cyberbullying.org, which proposes this definition: "Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others." Again, what is "information and communication technologies"' Cyber-bullying, as with face-to-face bullying, seeks to intentionally inflict emotional or physical harm upon the victim. They usually involve participants who exhibit an imbalance of power. Although not necessary to the proper definition of cyber-bullying, the conduct is usually repeated or the perpetrator intentionally leaves the impression with the victim that it will be repeated. But cyber-bullying has some disconcerting characteristics making it a unique crime. Most important is anonymity, the lack of face-to-face contact (which, arguably, can advantage the victim) and the ability in some instances to multiply the effect of bullying. Approximately ten per cent of all children have been the victim of cyber-bullying. Increasingly, and most frequently in the context of public education, jurisdictions are defining and prohibiting cyber bullying. For example: "Cyber-bullying (is) bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications. Cyber-bullying shall also include (i) the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or (ii) the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages...."2 Other definitions are found wanting such as this from Peter Smith because of the vague nature of the term "electronic forms of contact": "Cyber bullying is defined as an aggressive, intentional and repetitive act carried out by a group or individual using electronic forms of contact again for a specific individual. "Usually carried out over the Internet, cyber bullying includes harassment via instant messaging and e-mailing, posting false rumors on forum boards or on social networking sites, creating insulting websites, and hurtful behaviors in online games such as repeatedly killing a player's avatar."1 http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/C/Cyberbullying.aspx Cyberbullying involves recurring or repeated harm willfully inflicted through the medium of electronic text. In order for it to be cyber-bullying, the intent must be to cause emotional distress, and there must be no legitimate purpose to the communication. Cyberbullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech). Cyber-bullies may disclose victims' personal data (e.g. real name or workplace/schools) at websites or forums, or may attempt to assume the identity of a victim for the purpose of publishing material in their name that defames or ridicules them. Some may post victims' photos, or victims' edited photos like defaming captions or pasting victims' faces on nude bodies. One famous forum for disclosing personal data or photos to "punish" the "enemies" is Hong Kong Golden Forum. Cyberbullying is when you're on a site or MSN or some sort of cyber talking site. And then they start talking to you, and soon become so nasty and start to call you names and start using unsuitable words.  A cyberbully is a type of bully that does his work online. His/her words can be so rude and hurtful that they may be capable of affecting your behavior. Sometimes their words hurt as much as being physically bullied. Such acts should be reported to Supervisors. Supervisors will let them off with a warning first, but if this does not end, they will be blocked. But, unfortunately, cyberbullies may make a new account, and continue their acts of violence. But they will be blocked again. Avoid these bullies. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_cyberbully Definitions and characteristics of cyberbullying There is a range of different definitions of cyberbullying in use, which has implications for research and policy. The Australian Parliament report of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety (JSCCS, 2011a) highlights the importance of the future development of an appropriate definition for cyberbullying that is nationally consistent and includes a clear idea of the consequences. For the purposes of this paper, the following definition is used: cyberbullying is over time, and includes (but is not limited to): mean, nasty or threatening text messages/instant messages/pictures/video clips/emails that are sent directly to a person or others via a mobile phone or the Internet (Pearce, Cross, Monks, Waters, & Falconer, 2011). One of the ways in which a definition of cyberbullying is determined is to look at its similarities and differences to "offline bullying".2 Similar characteristics in both forms of bullying include: Power differential, repetition of behaviour and intent to harm (Spears, Slee, Owens, & Johnson, 2008). If two people of a similar status fight online, it is more likely to be "cyberfighting" (McGrath, 2009; Spears et al., 2008). Spreading rumours, making threats and derogatory comments (Mishna, Saini, & Solomon, 2009). The reasons that underpin a decision to cyberbully are often similar to reasons why offline bullying occurs (Vandebosh & Van Cleemput, 2008). Differences between the two types of bullying include: Cyberbullying is more likely experienced outside of school, where offline bullying is more likely to be experienced in school (Smith, Mahdavi, Carvahlo, Fisher, Russell, & Tippett, 2008). Repetition of behaviour associated with bullying can be seen to have a different meaning in cyberbullying, as the sharing of materials can continue to occur long after the incident itself (Spears et al., 2008). Younger students experience offline bullying more frequently than older students (Pellegrini & Long, 2002), but cyberbullying tends to be more common in the later years of high school (Cross, Shaw, Hearn, Epstein, Monks, Lester, & Thomas, 2009). Young people who experience cyberbullying may be less likely to tell someone than if they are bullied offline (McGrath, 2009). Cyberbullying is perceived as anonymous, which may work to reduce the empathy felt by the young person who is engaging in bullying behaviour towards his/her targets (O'Brien & Moules, 2010). In reality, however, young people are most likely to be cyberbullied by people they already know (Willard, 2011). The Joint Select Committee report suggested that the anonymity associated with cyberbullying is fast becoming a fallacy, as most young people who bully online also bully offline (JSCCS, 2011a). Young people who experience cyberbullying are less able to easily defend themselves (Smith et al., 2008) or escape from cyberbullying (O'Brien & Moules, 2010), particularly as there is an infinite number of potential supporters of online bullying (Cross et al., 2009). Different views of adults and young people There is a general sense within the literature that adults and young people think differently about the online and offline world. For children and young people, the online and offline world are "seamless" in providing a holistic arena of communication, socialisation, play, research and learning (JSCCS, 2011a; Willard, 2011). Consequently, children and young people don't necessarily see any difference between online and offline bullying (JSCCS, 2011a) - in one study young people described cyberbullying simply as "bullying via the Internet" or "bullying using technology" (Vandebosch, & van Cleemput, 2008). This is further supported by the idea that many young people who perpetrate cyberbullying also engage in offline bullying, and many young people who have experienced cyberbullying have also experienced offline bullying (Smith et al., 2008; Pearce et al., 2011). Location There is often a transference and continuation of cyberbullying behaviours from home to school or vice versa, with some suggestion that more students experienced cyberbullying outside of school than in school hours (Smith et al., 2008). Spears et al. (2008) described this as "cyclical" bullying, where not only the location but also the type of bullying (offline/online) may change over time. This 24/7 nature of cyberbullying highlights the importance of parental involvement in preventing and addressing cyberbullying in partnership with schools and possibly other youth-focused organisations. Cyberbullying statistics The prevalence of cyberbullying is difficult to establish. Statistics vary considerably across studies due to the differences in the way that cyberbullying is defined, the age of study participants, the use of different measures of cyberbullying and the study timeframes. With this in mind, estimates from Australian data suggest that: 7-10% of Year 4 to Year 9 students had been cyberbullied over the duration of a school term (Cross et al., 2009). Over a 12-month period, between 10-20% of children and young people have been cyberbullied, with 10-15% students experiencing cyberbullying more than once (JSCCS, 2011a). One in five Australian teenagers aged 12-17 years received hateful messages via their mobile phone or through an Internet-based medium during the current school year (Lodge & Frydenberg, 2007). European research indicates similar statistics, with 13% of young people aged 9-16 years reporting having received a hurtful or nasty online message within a 12-month period (Green, Brady, Olafsson, Hartley, & Lumby, 2011). European comparisons suggest that bullying online is more common in countries in which "offline" bullying is more common, as opposed to where the Internet is more established. This supports the notion that online bullying is a new form of an old problem rather than a product of the technology itself. Is cyberbullying more or less harmful than offline bullying' I did not dread coming home to an email from someone who hated me, I dreaded the prospect of going to school with someone who hated me and having those written words be spat at me before getting my jumper ripped off me and being put in some new and innovative choke hold. In an email there's always a delete button, in an instant message there's always a block button, in a five on one fight behind the school building there's no such thing. (Male participant, JSCCS, 2011a, p. 65) There is limited evidence at this stage to establish whether cyberbullying is more or less harmful than offline bullying, but there is an indication in the literature that young people may either underplay, minimise or deny the harm associated with cyberbullying (Spears et al., 2008). A 3-year Australian study on the consequences of cyberbullying found that mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, were more prevalent for children who reported that they had been cyberbullied compared to those who had been bullied offline. However, the students in this study stated that they felt cyberbullying was not as bad as offline bullying, even though the actual results indicated that it was for this group of students (JSCCS, 2011b). In one UK study, while young people who had experienced cyberbullying indicated that it had affected their confidence, self-esteem and mental wellbeing, the most common answer for how it had affected them was "not at all" (O'Brien & Moules, 2010). However, three-quarters thought cyberbullying was just as harmful as other forms of bullying - those who felt it wasn't harmful stated so because it was not physical, and it was easier to escape. These thoughts were also reflected in the JSCCS survey (JSCCS, 2011a). Some young people see cyberbullying as harder to avoid whereas others see offline bullying as more so (Spears et al., 2008). Respondents in the JSCCS survey indicated differing reactions to cyberbullying - some were deeply affected, some were able to shrug it off, and others did not interpret certain acts as cyberbullying. Smith et al. (2008) indicated that the type of cyberbullying may influence the way that young people perceived the impact, with misuse of photographs and bullying using a mobile phone perceived as having the greatest impact, and chat room and email incidents having the least impact. Young people may not be aware of the harm they cause through cyberbullying (O'Brien & Moules, 2010) and young people who are cyberbullied may take a message or email extremely seriously, when the sender may consider it a joke or idle remark (Cross et al., 2009). http://www.aifs.gov.au/cfca/pubs/papers/a141868/04.html | When the internet was first conceived, it was seen as a means of enrichment and improvement for people everywhere whereby they could improve areas of their lives such as education, entertainment, health, and commerce.  However, the opposite is also true.  The internet has a negative side that can provide a threatening, hostile environment to users, exposing them to personal risk.  This risk is cyberbullying.Cyberbullying follows the victims wherever they go. As a result, it is hard to hide from cyberbullying because it reaches into every corner of a child's life.  It has become a 24 hour a day ordeal for some youth.Cyberbullying can be defined as "the use of information and communications technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager messages, instant messaging, defamatory personal web sites, and defamatory online personal polling websites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others". (Bill Belsey, 2005).The internet is no longer free from prejudices of race, gender, and ability.http://www.lba.k12.nf.ca/cyberbullying/anonymity.htm | Cyber bullying "involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others. -Bill Belsey"  Cyber-bullying defined The National Crime Prevention Council's definition of cyber-bullying is "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person." StopCyberbullying.org, an expert organization dedicated to internet safety, security and privacy, defines cyberbullying as: "a situation when a child, tween or teen is repeatedly 'tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted' by another child, tween or teen using text messaging, email, instant messaging or any other type of digital technology." Other researchers use similar language to describe the phenomenon. Cyber-bullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech), ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, and posting false statements as fact aimed at humiliation. Cyber-bullies may disclose victims' personal data (e.g. real name, address, or workplace/schools) at websites or forums or may pose as the identity of a victim for the purpose of publishing material in their name that defames or ridicules them. Some cyberbullies may also send threatening and harassing emails and instant messages to the victims, while other post rumors or gossip and instigate others to dislike and gang up on the target. Though the use of sexual remarks and threats are sometimes present in cyber-bullying, it is not the same as sexual harassment and does not necessarily involve sexual predators. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index'qid=20091018125809AAnUCsJ Definition of a Cyber Bully by Bill Belsey-Bullying.org The term "cyberbullying" was first coined and defined by Canadian educator and anti-bullying activistBill Belsey, as "the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others." Cyberbullying has subsequently been defined as "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person".Other researchers use similar language to describe the phenomenon. Cyberbullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e.,hate speech), ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, blogs and posting false statements as fact aimed at humiliation. Cyberbullies may disclose victims' personal data (e.g. real name, address, or workplace/schools) at websites or forums or may pose as the identity of a victim for the purpose of publishing material in their name that defames or ridicules them. Some cyber-bullies may also send threatening and harassing emails and instant messages to the victims, while other post rumors or gossip and instigate others to dislike and gang up on the target. Posted by Shanna Koss at 12:54 PM http://www.stopbarbaracolebythesea.com/2012/02/definition-of-cyber-bully-by-bill.html Cyberbullying is the willful and repeated use of cell phones, computers, and other electronic communication devices to harass and threaten others. Instant messaging, chat rooms, e-mails, and messages posted on websites are the most common methods of this new twist of bullying. Cyberbullies can quickly spread messages and images to a vast audience, while remaining anonymous, often making them difficult to trace.  It is challenging to characterize cyberbullying in legislation however, language has included electronic communication, cyberbullying, and electronic and internet intimidation.  http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/cyberbullying.aspx Cyberbullying occurs when a teenager or pre-teenager uses the Internet, or any form of electronic communication, as a weapon of choice to threaten, harass, torture, or humiliate another child. A minor child has to be on both ends of the communication (i.e. sender, receiver) for it to be cyberbullying. Even though the perpetrator often hides his identity, the tormenter role and the victim role are interchangeable. Meaning, a victim of cyberbullying can eventually evolve into the bully himself---and vice versa. The extent of the torment is basically determined by the cyberbully and his level of know-how with the source of electronic communication. https://sites.google.com/site/cyberbullyinghome/definition-of-cyberbully