What is online bullying?
Online (‘cyber’) bullying is any bullying act which takes place via a digital device, e.g. cell phone, computer, via the internet or phone network. The term includes bullying on:
  • Social media sites, e.g. Facebook, Twitter
  • Internet chat rooms
  • Email
  • Text messaging
  • Gaming with shared content/messages
  • Shared Cloud services, e.g. Teams
  • SMS (Short Message Services), e.g. Snapchat

What causes online bullying?
Similarly to other kinds of bullying, there are many reasons why a person might bully online. However, this medium offers specific ‘advantages’ to people wishing to behave badly.
​
Online worlds are remote and somewhat abstract, which leads some to believe they can say things that they might not in person. These media also offer access, sometimes en masse, to people who might not otherwise be available, e.g. public figures and groups. In some cases, those who make a habit of acting negatively online (‘trolls’) use this increased access to express oppositional views or engage in targeted discrimination. Security settings and access procedures on many sites are constantly updated for this very reason.

Use security measures
Online media reach deeply into our professional and personal lives, which means escaping them completely can be tricky. This ‘reach’ is often implicated by those seeking work-life balance in our rapidly progressing & technological world.
​
It is in your interest to proactively seek out and activate security measures – ‘over protection’ is not usually an issue. Get assistance with this if you need.

If you have concerns, or have been bullied in the past, opt for the more extreme measures, e.g. on Facebook, choose options which ensure very little information is visible in the public space. Other options add further protection:
  • identifying yourself by a pseudonym
  • using a generic profile picture
  • limiting the scope of anything you post, especially photographs and personal details about yourself/family
  • use a password generator, such as: https://xkpasswd.net/s/

What does online bullying look like?
Online bullying can include:
  • Comment or threat classed as bullying or harassment across other media
  • Wilful, repeated following, watching or harassing a person over a period of time – ‘stalking’
  • Making false claims about you
  • Being grossly offensive, indecent or obscene
  • Spreading rumours or defamatory comments
  • Sharing sensitive or personal information, or recorded media without consent, e.g. video
  • Sharing information/material given in confidence
  • Encouraging someone to harm you, e.g. by sending messages
  • Encouraging suicide or self-harm
  • Denigrating you on the basis of personal characteristics, e.g. ethnicity or impairment
  • Disseminating offensive or pornographic material

Further information at:
https://communitylaw.org.nz/community-law-manual/chapter-28-harassment-and-bullying/cyberbullying-protections-against-online-digital-harassment/

Who is at risk from online bullying?
Tweens and teenagers are at risk of online bullying because of their prevalent use of technology, failure to understand the reach and nature of electronic media, vulnerability, adult predators, and coping skills which are still formative. However, online bullying happens across all age groups and even seasoned users can suffer from it, and struggle to find appropriate management skills

Did you know? 

Teachers can fall victim to online bullying where their students writing a bad/untrue review (e.g. on a school Facebook page) or spread rumours about them.

Feelings about online bullying
Like any other kind of bullying, that happening online can make a person, angry and upset. It can also be confusing at first, and set someone into a state of ‘fight or flight’ anxiety.
​
Because online bullying can be intrusive, feelings and effects can be extremely marked. If in doubt, seek medical support as soon as you can.

What can we do about online bullying in the short term?
The same provisos described in the first pages here, apply to online bullying. Here is a step by step guide:
  • Get off the media (difficult when media might also offer mechanisms of support – arrange alternatives if need be, e.g. phone a friend rather than using Messenger)
  • Tell a trusted friend what has happened
  • If necessary, give your phone/laptop to the friend as ‘incoming messages’ may trigger anxiety
  • Take charge of your media – or, if this is likely to make you anxious, get the trusted friend to do it for you
  • Block access if you can, change passwords if you have been hacked. Delete relevant contacts from social media and use the reporting tools available to you on all media/devices.
  • Do not delete messages (may be needed for evidence later) – if possible get someone to take screenshots for evidence and then hide comments (etc.) so they do not trigger you.
  • If a threat has been made, get to a place of mental and physical safety, call a trusted friend and the Police.
  • After the event – think about whether you need to report this incident - to your institution if on email, to social media companies if bullying happens on here, to phone companies if by text. They can help you check on your security measures but are also able to monitor the situation, and plan for future incidents.

What to do about cyber bullying in the long term?
  1. Stay in touch with security settings and reporting procedures on all media platforms. Those annoying ‘updates’ for apps and software often have a security focus. Don’t ignore them, perhaps click ‘go ahead’ when plugging your phone or laptop in to charge overnight, one specific day a week.
  2. Always question (and DON’T click on links) odd arrivals in your inbox or messaging apps (e.g. ‘I can’t believe this is you on this video!!!’). If they look odd, they probably are. If they look like they are trying to grab your attention, they are doing so for a reason.
  3. Don’t accept contacts or requests on social media unless you are absolutely sure who it is. If in doubt, contact the person first.
  4. Use your IT support. These departments keep a good eye on phishing or deleterious emails and can also block contacts from emailing you if needs be.
  5. Pay attention to your institution’s regular emails about phishing or hacking (becoming a specific problem now with increased Zoom use).
  6. Use a password for Zoom.

Follow the links to find out more about:

​
​For comments or suggestions on the material presented here, please contact [email protected]
Help us keep our website up to date. If you see any errors or outdated content please get in touch via [email protected]

The black and white background images used throughout this website are from the Woodhouse Archive and provided by the Nicholson Collection, The University of Sydney.